//------------------------------// // Ten: Trust // Story: Stereoheart // by FimFan14 //------------------------------// Four figures were clad in black, form-fitting clothes. Neither their colour, race or mane were visible. They were completely anonymous, save for their faces. This was a huge flaw, but where would one get a mask at this hour? "Maybe we should try again tomorrow!" Stereo stage-whispered. The tree library in front of him had never seemed so daunting. What he was about to do, and wanting not to do, was a breach of trust and common sense. "No way!" Scootaloo whispered back. "You dragged us out here, we're doing this tonight!" "Okay, okay," Stereo replied softly. "How do we do this?" A long silence followed, in which all four foals attempted to silently come up with a plan. "I got it!" Sweetie whispered. "I can see an open window. Scootaloo, you give me and Stereo a boost. We'll get the book." "Why do you get to go in?" Scootaloo said, pouting. "Because it's a really big book," Stereo explained. I can lift it by myself, and Sweeite's just for emergency help. I need two strong ponies like you to be able to catch it when I drop it out the window, and to run if we get caught." "Ohhhhh..." Scootaloo said, understanding the plan now. "Okay, sounds good. Let's go team!" The main room of the library was eerily quiet, even if libraries were supposed to be as such. Stereo was casting a light spell, noting the perfectly organized books that had been re-shelved that afternoon. He of course was already feeling remorse for what he was about to do, but also relief. Twilight was asleep, and from what he had heard, this was pretty unusual. She usually spent this time studying. Stereo flipped open a random book, hoping to miraculously find the spell he was looking for in a book that looked nothing like the one he was looking for. Basic 'wink out' quick teleportation spell? Stereo thought, reading the spell. Looks difficult... but I think I can do it. Stereo quickly committed the spell to memory. He would have to get Twilight to help him with it later. Stereo suddenly noticed the book, lying open on a table. He almost opened his mouth, but caught himself in time. Recalling the telepathy spell he and Frisky had used, he targeted Sweetie's head with his magic, and established a connection. Sweetie, It's me! He thought. Don't make a sound, but nod if you can hear me. A confused look crossed Sweeties face. It's not your imagination, nod if you can hear me! Sweetie slowly nodded, before looking at him. Good Sweetie, he thought to her. I see the book, It's over there. He pointed to the book, before walking up to it. A purple glow surrounded it, before it was lifted off the table and closed. There, now we just have to... An alarm not unlike those used to warn of hazardous radiation levels sounded, and it was loud. SHE PUT A SPELL ON IT! Stereo thought to Sweetie. RUN! The two foals ran back to the window, Stereo briefly turning around to see an upstairs door open. It was Twilight. He froze in place, but Sweetie jerked him back towards the window. They leaped out. "Hey, what gives?" Scootaloo said in an annoyed tone. After all, her and Apple Bloom were flattened on the ground by Stereo and Sweetie. "No time to explain!" Stereo cried. "Hope this works!" Stereo's horn glowed its regular colour, but with greater intensity. A an electrical noise grew in volume as he went through the steps of the spell. A single ball of energy grew at the tip of his horn, as well as within him and his friends, and with an explosive noise, they disappeared. All four foals reappeared by the reservoir, slightly dazed. As the girls regained their senses, the first thing they heard was Stereo groaning and falling limp by them. Apple Bloom caught him from behind, and gently placed him on the ground. "Quick, give me that book!" Sweetie cried. "I need to read the spell, in case Twilight gets the book before Stereo can see it!" Scootaloo readily complied; Apple Bloom with less enthusiasm. Sweetie hooved through the pages, eventually coming to the right one before she began to read. "Here it says that all he needs to do is sit with Aqua, and focus some magic right into his horn. It says that the little bit of magic will be enough to start his auto... automomi... autonomous magic production." "That sounds easy," Apple Bloom said, surprising everypony. She had been quiet for the whole time. "Uh... I guess it is," Sweetie replied. "Scootaloo, I need you to hide this book somewhere. Apple Bloom and I will take Stereo to Rainbow Dash. We should be able to wake her up." "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Scootaloo asked worriedly. "Of course," Sweetie said. "You of all ponies should know that Rainbow Dash can keep a secret. She does it all the time!" "Wait... what secrets?" "Ask me later Scootaloo... or ask Fluttershy," Sweetie said as she began to walk away. "But we really have to go. I'm getting tired." "Nnngg..." Stereo groaned, opening his eyes slowly. Everything was a haze, and he felt so weak... what happened? Memories started to flood back into his mind as his brain booted up for the morning. His synapsing neurons did so in ways that made him cringe. They had stolen the book, Twilight caught them. He teleported them all out and... and that was where it ended. He was here, and performing the teleportation was the last thing he remembered. He noted that he felt extremely drained, unable to even levitate a nearby glass of water. He sat up, and took the glass in his hooves 'manually.' He had forgotten how much of a bother that was... "Hey kid." Stereo nearly spat out his water, and looked towards his door. "Did you sleep well?" "I don't even remember, Rainbow," Stereo groaned. "And don't scare me like that!" "Sorry," Rainbow replied with her usual air of apparent insincerity. If he was his usual observant self, Stereo would have noted Rainbow's apparent dismissal and forgetting of the previous morning's events. "Look, I'm sorry kid." "About what?" "You know," Rainbow trailed off, before picking back up again. "Me telling you all that... stuff." "That's okay, you needed to tell me," Stereo assured her. "Yeah, I needed to tell somepony." Rainbow said. "I know that now. But you're what, twelve? And you just got out of your own problem... That was really... uncool of me." Stereo laughed in response. "What?" Rainbow said defensively. "What's so funny?" "The way you said that, you sound like you're really worried about me thinking that you're 'uncool,'" Stereo elaborated. "Well... yeah, I guess..." Rainbow said quietly. "I mean, I have a reputation to maintain, and you kind of live with me. Being anything but plain awesome would drive you crazy, right!" Her last cocky question was more of a statement - there was no argument, she implied it as a fact. Stereo was fairly tactful in his approach. He wouldn't have been if certain named parties were present, but he managed to prove Rainbow wrong. "Well, I am friends with Twilight, aren't I?" It was Rainbows turn to laugh. "Anyway, I'm feeling better now," Stereo said. A little pain at the bottom of my horn, but I'm more hungry than anything." "Yeah..." Rainbow said slowly. "About that. Twilight said that you'd be sore there... you can only eat some special thing that she gave me." "You went to TWILIGHT!?" Stereo nearly yelled. "Relax, she understands." Rainbow said. "She was really worried about you, especially when she couldn't get you up. She said that she wasn't angry, but wanted her book back and wanted to talk to you." "Yeah, but I don't have the book." *knock* *knock* *knock* Stereo was knocking on a door. Again. He seemed to be doing that a lot recently. It was still a strange feeling; you couldn't knock on Cloudsdale doors. When it opened, however, all thoughts of comparative architectural styles fled from his mind and transformed into beads of sweat on his forehead. There was no doubt about it - he was nervous. "Ah, hello Stereo," Twilight said with a menacing kindness. "Please, come in." Stereo complied, stepping over the threshold and into the main library. And Twilights urging, he took a seat. "Now, you know that I'm disappointed in you, right?" Stereo's response was filled with guilt. "Yes..." "You also know that I'm extremely proud of you, as well." "Ye... wait, what?" "Stereo, I don't approve of you taking such a dangerous artifact. But I appreciate the heart behind it. You wanted to help your friend, even though it tore you up to betray me. And I know. When you heard my voice while you were sleeping this morning, you started screaming, begging me to forgive you, to give you my trust, to still be your friend. Never loose that, Stereo. But you should also remember not to steal. If you used that spell, then you probably would have lost all of your magic, especially if you did it to another emotionally unstable and slightly hormonal twelve year old." "Thank you, Twilight," Stereo said quietly. "But what about your..." "I got my book back," Twilight began. "Apple Bloom... she couldn't handle the guilt. She gave it back to me, explaining that Scootaloo and Sweetie didn't understand the danger of dishonesty." "Okay, now what about Aqua?" "I've got a solution," Twilight said cheerfully. "Actually, it's the Princess' suggestion." "Celestia?" "No, Princess Luna," Twilight said, correcting him. "She apparently spent a whole night crafting a spell for you to use. It's similar to the other spell, but without the danger." She handed him a scroll, which had instructions for the spell written in both standard equestrian and with unfamiliar symbols. "I'll teach you about the symbols later," she continued. "But for now, all you'll need is the instructions. Quickly, go find Aquaflow and give him a shock!" *knock* *knock* *knock* Well, the spell had been complicated looking. He had to channel the magic directly into Aqua's horn, and then direct it into his magic store. Luckily there was a diagram that showed were that was. He had to simultaneously shield the path of the magic with more magic, so as not to have it disturbed by synapsing neurons that he passed by. That, if his science classes in Cloudsdale had served him well, sounded like it could... The door to the house opened, with Lyra behind it. "Oh, hey!" She said cheerfully. "I'll go get Aqua." Well, that was quick Now he had a chance to rethink what he thought he was about to think before Lyra interrupted his thoughts. About the fact that the spell could... "Oh, hey Stereo!" Stereo derailed his train of thought this time with a smile on his face. He was always happy to see Aqua. "Hey, Aqua!" "So what are we gonna do today?" Aqua asked. "I have a surprise for you at the lake!" Stereo said. Come on!" As they ran, that single thought completed itself, the thought that the spell could... no, if he had learned one thing, it was that Luna was to be trusted with all of his heart. If she said it would work, then it would. After a few minutes walk, they raced to the edge of the water. "Okay, so what is it?" Aqua asked excitedly. Not letting 'that thought' run through his mind again, he replied with similar enthusiasm. "I'm gonna give you your magic back!" Aqua paused. "How?" "Easy!" Stereo replied. "Well, sort of. There's this spell that I do on you, that jumpstarts your magic production." "Okay, what do I do?" Aqua asked. "Just tell me if you feel anything after the spell." Stereo said. "O-okay," Aqua said nervously, before firming his voice. "I'm ready!" Stereo aimed his horn towards Aqua. He completed the steps as smoothly as he could; creating the link and channeling the wavy trail of violet magic added one aura around his horn, shielding the channel made a second. Soon, after a few seconds, he released the flow. The remaining magic trailed into Aqua's horn, then the last part of the spell was released. "I feel... tingly," Aqua said slowly. "And light-headed. Can I use magic yet?" "Probably not," Stereo said. "The scroll said that you would need to rest for a few hours, and don't try magic until tomorrow morning. Come and see me and Twilight then." "Wow," Aqua said. "Mom was right when she said that I should be friends with you." "She told you to?" "No, but she met you, and then told me that you would be a really good friend."