"I prefer to be called Pinwh--," he began to lecture as he opened the door, but stopped short, flabbergasted by who met his eyes. "Kimono?"

A stately mare stood waiting outside when it opened. In the dim light, the yellow Japanese lanterns of her Birthbrand seemed to glow against the dusky violet-rose of her coat, the color of the sky at twilight. As usual, her thick hair was elegantly and sensibly braided up and out of the way, tinsel twinkling within the dark purple like stars in a deep night. What was the Record-Keeper doing here? And at this time of night?

"I brought you a book I thought you would like. A Bushwoolie history," she announced. He glanced at the brown satchel around her neck, and back up to her face in confusion.

"Couldn't I pick it up at the Library? Why did you bring it all the way down here?"

She was peering over his shoulder into the study beyond, where Moondancer was waiting. She pawed the ground impatiently, and dropped her voice.

"I am also bearing a message from Alpha Sunny Daze."

Wishawhirl's manners came back to him in a flash. He immediately stepped aside, gesturing her in with a small bow. "I am honored. Please come inside."

Wishawhirl was well acquainted with Kimono due to the amount of time he spent with her going through old grimoires and conversing after public lectures. He would have hesitated to use the word friend to describe her, though he valued her wisdom and good-judgment and admired her unflagging devotion to the Alpha. Whether due to the weighty and time-consuming nature of her official duties or to her naturally introspective, hermetic disposition, she wasn't the kind of pony who invited familiarity. Or for that matter, made whimsical nighttime visits without a compelling reason. A sick chill crept out from his stomach as he realized word must have reached the Alpha of the fiasco with the Self-Amplifier.

"Would you like to sit down?" Wishawhirl offered, indicating the bench from which Moondancer had risen respectfully.

"No thank-you, I prefer to stand. But please seat yourselves. There's no need to stand." Kimono nosed around in her satchel, emerging with a small blue book.

"Rolling with the Bushwoolies," read Wishawhirl. "Fascinating. I've been looking for more information of Bushwoolies." He took the book from her and placed it on his desk He and Moondancer both reseated themselves uncertainly.

"Well." Kimono seemed to have exhausted her stalling tactics. Her eyes slid towards Moondancer significantly. Finally she cleared her throat and simply said, "Wishawhirl, perhaps you would be more comfortable if we spoke alone."

"I prefer to called by the noble Dream Valley moniker…" he began stiffly.

"Pinwheel. Yes, yes, I know," she snorted. "Are you aware that Pinwheel is a mare's name?"

Wishawhirl colored slightly. "It's an ambisexual name," he countered.

"Maybe I should leave?" suggested Moondancer.

"No, Moondancer, stay," insisted Wishawhirl. "Anything the Record-Keeper has to tell me, you may hear as well. As long as that doesn't interfere with the wishes of the Alpha."

Kimono shook her head. "I only came so late to spare you any embarrassment. I fear what I have to tell you may be difficult enough without any additional gossip."

Wishawhirl's mouth was dry as he tried to swallow. He tried to speak. "I think I know what this might be about…"

Kimono cut him off. "Word has reached Alpha Sunny Daze of your latest…invention. A device intended to imbue to user with magical powers. Is this correct?"

"Yes, the Self-Amplifier" he said admitted. "But it doesn't work yet."

"We hear that it instead creates a record of what is shown, which it then displays through moving pictures and sound."

He nodded.

"The Alpha was very concerned to hear that you tested your latest invention today without consulting her for safety guidelines. We understand there were several other ponies present, including your little sister, none of whom knew how to operate the machine. None of them would have known how to disable it should something have gone awry and you were somehow incapacitated, correct?"

He nodded again miserably.

She took a breath. "The Alpha feels that due to your previous communications and other…incidents…that you must have been implicitly aware that this kind of reckless experimentation, especially with children present, would be against her wishes."

From the Kimono's tone of voice and twitching left ear, Wishawhirl gathered that the Alpha wasn't the only one who felt that way. Guilt was a fist squeezing his innards as he remembered the Bubblecup's nervous face as she threw the lever to start the machine.

"I was just so excited, I wasn't thinking about it that way…" he began.

"Therefore," continued Kimono over him. "The Alpha is inclined to restrict you from further investigations and inventing of this nature. She asked me to convey her displeasure and also the news that you are banned from further activity of this kind until she sees fit. Additionally, she wishes to confiscate anything she feels may pose a threat."

Wishawhirl's eyes had grown wide in shock. He was gripped with despair as a blur of images from the afternoon rushed through his head: the silly gossips, the ridiculous arrogance of the pony on the wall, his little sister's golden hair and smile. He put his head in his hooves, as his throat tightened. Moondancer's brow was creased with worry.

"However," added Kimono purposefully. "I suggested that I first investigate this machine for potential usefulness. Visual and audio records of events such as important meetings would be invaluable for the archives, and I have advised the Alpha that we would not want to rob ourselves of the mind that brought us such an invention. IF the machine works as I hope, and IF we can guarantee it's safety, then I MAY be able to convince the Alpha to allow you to continue SOME research."

"She's right," said Wishawhirl brokenly, speaking to the floor. "I shouldn't be allowed to continue. When I think of what I could have done today…I've been so horrible."

Kimono shifted uncomfortably at this unusual display, and shared a look of concern with Moondancer.

"But you may have also invented something of great use," ventured Moondancer.

"Why don't you show us the machine?" suggested Kimono, a little more gently.

Wishawhirl glumly led them to the Self-Amplifier, painfully aware that the state of the ceilingless room did not speak well of his reliability. Kimono slowly circled the tower of baubles and wires amidst the wreckage, making inquiries as to its workings and theory. In spite of himself, Wishawhirl found his mind turning the problems and postulates over in his mind as he explained what he had planned, how he thought the machine might have produced the results it had, and the beginnings of his ideas for what kind of corrections he could make to it.

"It seems safe enough right now," commented Kimono cautiously.

"I was in the projected image for several minutes today," said Wishawhirl. "It seems to be no different from ordinary colored lights to me, except that they are in shapes. It certainly didn't do me any damage." Physical damage, he thought.

"Can you show the picture again?"

He hated to replay the record of himself, but forced himself to do it like a penance. I have to face up to what I'm really like, he thought grimly, as he watched the humiliating record of himself. However, no laughter was heard from the sidelines where Kimono and Moondancer stood safely away from the moving lights, even as the pictures of his Birthbrand appeared. Indeed, had Kimono raised her eyebrows as though impressed and slowly nodded at intervals, while Moondancer looked pensive, head cocked to one side. Now that he thought about it, the machine could make good records for the Archives. Imagine if Dream Valley had left such records!

"I guess that's just about it. Let's try the amplification!" the voice from the crystal was saying excitedly. Wishawhirl's image walked off the wall and the picture sputtered out.

"Very interesting. Very interesting," Kimono mused. "A shame it's so big, though. We would have to build another one in the great hall, I suppose."

"Well," said Wishawhirl meekly. "If all we wanted was the picture and sound, I could probably make it a lot smaller. Most of the rest of that stuff is for amplifying and other kinds of data collection."

Kimono and Moondancer had both turned to him with interest.

"How small?"

"Maybe as big as your head?" he guessed. "A little bigger?"

A smile twitched on Moondancer's lips. Kimono looked pleased.

"How soon?"

"How soon what?"

"Can you get that done? I want to show Alpha Sunny Daze."

Wishawhirl's heart leapt to his throat. "Tomorrow! I'll finish it tonight!" he cried excitedly.

Kimono shook her head. "Calm down. You need to get some sleep. Moondancer and I should leave you to rest. Just come let me know when it's done, as soon as you finish. Or let me know when you have a real estimate for how long it will take. Come find me tomorrow sometime."

She started to make her way back to the door, followed by Moondancer. Wishawhirl accompanied them outside. As they walked through the mess of a garden and Moondancer and Kimono reached the main path, Kimono turned Wishawhirl for some parting words.

"Wishawhirl," Kimono warned. "No more experimenting for a while. Let me help you sort this out first. Then we can discuss the best way to proceed. If I hear about anything else like this, though…" Her voice trailed off threateningly.

Wishawhirl nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Kimono." He wisely choose not to remind her to call him Pinwheel. Kimono looked expectantly at Moondancer.

"I'll catch up in a minute, if you don't mind, Record-Keeper," Moondancer said shyly. Kimono raised an eyebrow, but nodded her goodnights and started walking up the path to leave them with some privacy. Moondancer touched her nose lightly to Wishawhirl's shoulder for a moment.

"That's a pretty cool invention."

Wishawhirl sighed. "At least it might turn out to be useful."

"I don't think you should feel too bad. I think it works just fine." She paused, looking seriously at Wishawhirl's long face. "You only saw the bad things, Pinwheel. Your flaws. You saw your false pride and disappointment…"

"And my huge rear end…"

She grinned. "That, too. And it's good to face those things. But there are some things you blinded yourself to, also. Good things. In that moving light picture, I saw your thoroughness and intelligence. I saw your vision and inspiration and your sense of purpose. I saw all those things amplified and made great."

He snorted, "Ridiculous, you mean."

She smiled mischievously. "Maybe a little. Still a pony. But also great." She reached forward and rested her head on his shoulders, pony hug. He returned the gesture.

"I better catch up, or Kimono will wonder." She winked. "Good night!" She threw him a last smile as she ran up the path.

"Good night." He called after her, watching her disappear into the darkness. He stood outside for a few minutes, staring up at the round-bellied moon and the pinpoint lights in the sky. Moondancer was right about getting out to see the stars. He should look up more often. He lowered his gaze to earth, and turned to go back inside, to begin work on the Self-Amplifier. Sleep indeed.