//------------------------------//
// 11 The Next Day 
// Story: Aria 
// by SprocketProductions 
//------------------------------//

I woke up, not wanting to do anything. All I wanted to do was go to sleep again. The light pouring in from the window directly at my face had other plans though. I looked over to my side, seeing my special somepony still asleep, and still holding me protectively. I carefully slipped out of the bed, as to not wake him, and made my way quietly downstairs. I repeated the usual process of making coffee and picked up my mug. I looked down into the liquid, seeing my reflection. I didn't see a stallion, I saw the mare I had been for the past three days. I gasped, realizing Starswirl's hypothesis was right. I sat my coffee mug down as I pranced upstairs and to the bedroom, waking Flare up with a kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning love." I cheerfully remarked.

He groaned as he rubbed his eyes, "What's got you so happy this morning?"

When he removed his hooves from his face, he looked at me and his jaw dropped. He rubbed his eyes again to make sure he wasn't seeing anything.

"Holy crap!" He exclaimed.

I smiled, "Yeah, how about this?"

"He was right!" Flare was dumbfounded.

I nodded, "I know!"

After about five minutes, we were sitting at the kitchen table, drinking our coffee and smiling at each other. I loved Flare, and now I was going to have a kid with him. I was excited, happy, and receiving an email?

I pulled out my phone to see a hastily written message from Starswirl that read "come here quick"

I was confused by the message as I drank the last of my coffee. I figured it was an urgent thing, so I convinced Flare to get in the car with me and drive us back to the magic district. When we arrived at Star's shop, one of the front windows was shattered. Several police officers were at the scene, examining the damage. An ambulance had managed to make it through the bumpy road and Star was sitting on the step on the back with a blanket wrapped around him. His nose was bloody and he looked awfully shaken up. A few other shop owners had come out to look at the scene, but other than that, the street was eerily empty. The black magic dealers had retreated deeper into the alleys, giving law enforcement a reason to turn a blind eye, and no magic obsessed ponies were around to witness the most profitable magic shop in the district in its current state.

I walked up to Star, "What happened?"

"I-uhh th-they t-took the..." he trailed off.

I put a hoof on his shoulder, "It's okay, what did they take?"

"The book. They took the book." He began to regain his composure.

I looked him in the eyes, "Who were they?"

"I'm afraid I don't know. A few ruffians broke the window, threw a rock at my face and took the book from its case..." He replied.

I inquired, "Do you know who might do such a thing?"

"I'm afraid not, but I would look into the black magic dealers, starting with the one you bought the book from." He suggested.

I thanked him as I walked into the door of the shop.

An officer stopped me, "Sorry ma'am, this is a crime scene. Unless you have a relation or affiliation to the victim, you can't be here."

"I'm a friend of Star's. I found the book that somepony stole for him." I stated.

He gestured toward the damage, "By all means, take a look, then. But I don't think you're gonna find anything we didn't."

"What do you think happened?" I asked.

He replied, "I think a couple of black magic dealers thought they could make a lot of quick money off of that book. So they broke in and took it. Serves him right for keeping it in a glass case if you ask me."

"Will you try to stop me if I try to get it back?" I probed.

He said, "Be my guest. The less money black magic dealers can make, the better."

I gave a thankful nod and headed out the store. Once out, I proceeded to the alley in which I purchased the book. I walked further in until I found the pony who ran the makeshift shop. He looked up at me and smiled greedily.

"Come to give that other type of payment?" He asked smugly.

I glared at him, "What happened with the book."

"It's not my job to babysit your buyer." He retorted, uneasily.

I primed the pulse spell, "I'm not playing games. Don't you dare lie to me."

"Okay, okay! I saw Pentagram and River Styx pacing the street earlier, they were talking about how much they could make off of it!" He frantically explained.

I pulled my magic, so only a weak pulse hit him, still making him flinch, "You guys have some awful names."

I walked out and to the shop owner next to Star's shop.

"I'm trying to get that book back and I have a lead on a Pentagram and River Styx. Do you by any chance know where they are?" I inquired.

She smiled at me, "They've been causing trouble for months now! And finally something they can be arrested for! I'll be happy to help you!" She pointed at the alley on the far side of the shop next to Star's.

I thanked her for her help and proceeded in, my spell primed again. I saw a table set up with various items. The book was laying between other odd looking items. I glared at the two nearby and picked it up, starting to walk away.

"Hey! You can't take that!" The stallion stood up and yelled.

I stopped and turned around, my horn glowing, "It's the book or your lives, and I'll still take the book in the second option."

"What are YOU going to do?" Asked the mare, likely Pentagram, as that was her cutie mark.

I let my pulse out onto a trash can and the shockwave tore straight through the thick metal. The two's eyes widened as I shot them an apathetic expression.

"Let that be a warning." I said as I turned back around and walked out.

I approached Star and gave him the book, "Don't put it in a glass case. Put it in a secure display. You don't want it to be stolen again."

"You appear to remain physically female." Star pointed out.

I nodded.

"Doesn't that mean, you're pregnant?" He asked.

My eyes widened in realization, "Oh, oh my Celestia."

Our car ride home was silent as I processed the next step of my life.