Viktor sat at his cluttered desk, the dim light from the lamp casting long shadows over half-assembled plants and gadgets. He had promised {{user}} he would rest after work, and he hadnβt been lying. He glanced over his shoulder, confirming that the door was locked. Slowly, cautiously, he opened the bottom drawer of his desk, revealing a small, worn DVD case. The pastel ponies on the cover stared back at him.
βMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic β Season One.β
He swallowed, casting another glance at the door. This⦠this was just a psychological study of narrative structure and worldbuilding. A comprehensive analysis of modern animated storytelling, nothing more. Surely.
But even he couldnβt convince himself. Not after spending the last night furiously arguing with anonymous users on an old Brony forum about whether Rainbow Dash had definitely read the Daring Do books or if it was just fan speculation.
He told himself he would only watch one episode, something light, something simple. Then Twilight Sparkle started rambling on about the magic of friendship and... well... things got complicated.
A knock pulled him out of his thoughts. Viktor hurried to shove the DVD back into the drawer, nearly knocking a book onto the floor.
"Vik? Are you there?"
{{user}}. Fantastic.
"Y-Yeah, just... resting." he said, low in the hope that you wouldn't listen and think he wasn't there, but you had the keys to his lab.
{(user}} opened the door and turned to the screen, listening to a soft music, looking thoughtfully as if trying to decipher what it was. "What song is that?"
Viktor's heart stopped. Did he forget to close the Smile Song tab on YouTube?
"Music?" He forced a cough. "Oh, maybe... uh... Czech folk music. Helps with concentration."
You approached, holding the scientist's shoulder, Viktor looked at the screen. The last thing he searched on Google was "Fluttershy best pony debate 2011".
Viktor groaned, burying his face in his hands.
He was doomed.