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// 1: Eyes color sunset 
// Story: White days of Winter 
// by James David Fox 
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White days of Winter



Eyes color sunset


Sweetie Belle always liked the cold, it offered a different view of everything, not that she disliked the green landscape that was always alive and vibrant, maybe it was because it was peaceful, silent, the snow covering the mountains, the trees, the icy breeze caressing her face gently, it was always a special mix between stillness and ferocity, for winter could be smooth and lethal as well.

Sweetie Belle lied to her friends about some chores to do for her sister so she could have this moment for herself, they offered to visit Pinkie Pie and ask her for ice skates so they could go to the frozen lake and see who was the best skater. Sweetie Belle knew she was going to get hurt, and she could not stay with them any longer. That day she needed to be alone.

“I’m just so clumsy I’d probably fall and hit the ice with my face.” She told to herself, coming to the conclusion that her decision was for the best. A single ray of light came through the clouds and illuminated a distant point, Sweet Apple Acres. A smile escaped her lips, wondering if she could go over there, visit her friend later, maybe have some fun with her.

She stopped in the middle of the way that led to her sister’s house and sighed deeply, that was the main reason she was going home early today.

She has been losing control of everything, and it was getting worse every day that passed. The shaky legs, the trembling voice, the occasional blush every now and then. Things were getting just too awkward to endure it a single second anymore.

Negation was the simplest and best way to deal with all of the events, but this strategy couldn't last for too long, and it was frustrating. Sooner rather than later she had to admit to herself, to give some peace to her mind which couldn't ignore the screams of her heart anymore, that she was having her biggest crush ever, and it wasn’t something that made her happy.

Apple Bloom was certainly somepony to admire, coming from the Apple family she had the virtues acquired from tradition, natural strength, and wisdom that could only come from a family like hers. Sure, they have made some (or many) mistakes, but her ability to make up solutions so fast made her all the more radiant to Sweetie Belle's eyes, if Apple Bloom was guiding their adventures, Sweetie Belle always felt safe. 

She was beautiful, amazing, and even these words weren’t enough to describe her. Her smile was so bright, honest, sometimes mischievous, and at the top of It all a laugh that was better than any of the melodies written to her ears, a wonderful mane well cared for and her unique touch, the bow, which was always in the perfect place, in a perfect way, she may not look like it but Apple Bloom really cared about the way her bow was placed on her mane. But without a doubt her favorite feature were Apple Bloom's eyes, they had this unique color which Sweetie Belle liked to compare to the colors of the brightest of sunsets, calm and peaceful, bright but soothing. Yes, everything in just one special little filly, everything in Apple Bloom.

Another cold breeze caressed Sweetie Belle's coat urging her to wake up. The little unicorn got up and started walking again avoiding looking in the direction of the Sweet Apple Acres. 

Once Sweetie Belle got to Carousel Boutique she cleaned her hooves on the carefully placed rug from outside and opened the door, a warm feeling filled her body since the chimney was working, a delicious smell of hot cocoa traveled through her nostrils which made her lick her lips already tasting it. 

But there were voices coming from the kitchen, it was her sister, and the other voice was easily recognizable, the new princess Twilight Sparkle. 

It felt weird having her over, Twilight was somepony she was amazed of, the power of her magic is astounding, unbelievable, Sweetie Belle could only dream in doing what Twilight was capable of. Sweetie Belle was controlling her magic better in the past days, being able to levitate things for short periods of time, or doing simple tasks, like opening doors or boxes. She felt proud of herself, since not too long ago she wasn’t able to even create a little spark of her own.

“Sweetie Belle, dear! You’re home early! Would you like some?” Rarity said already serving a cup with her magic.
“Yes please!” Said the little filly looking at Twilight. “Good afternoon miss Twilight”.
“Good afternoon Sweetie Belle.” Twilight smiled at Sweetie Belle while the little filly trotted to the table. “It is nice to see you”
While Sweetie Belle enjoyed the hot cocoa the two adult mares were having a casual talk, with Rarity being curious about the life of royalty, and Twilight answering every question.
“… and tell me, are there any… single gentlecolts you could introduce me to?” Rarity asked playfully. Twilight rolled her eyes and smiled.
“You wouldn’t like them, they're… too full of themselves to care about others”
“Much like that prince I met sometime ago”
“Yeah, kind of…” Twilight chuckled.

Sweetie Belle wondered if her sister would be able to find her special somepony. Rarity was beautiful and charming, yet she seemed to struggle to find that special partner she wanted. Sweetie Belle also wondered how would her sister take the news if she decided to tell her about Apple Bloom and how the little filly was feeling about her. There was a great possibility that Rarity would love it if her little sister found a good and handsome colt, but what about another filly? Would Rarity be okay with that? Would her parents be okay about it if Rarity kicked her out? Rarity seemed like the type of pony that was into tradition, a mare and a stallion, that was the normal way to be in a couple. Sweetie Belle started playing with her mane as she zoned out on her cup of cocoa. It was not like Sweetie Belle was able to choose, these feelings evolved into her almost as fast as Rainbow Dash in mid Sonic Rainboom. Sweetie Belle decided that she would leave her sister out of it, since Rarity's reaction was not something she could predict, the little unicorn preferred to keep silence. 

“Sweetie, dear is everything alright? Your cocoa must be cold already.” Sweetie Belle woke up from her thoughts.
“Sorry sis, let me reheat it.” Sweetie Belle was about to get up from the table.
“No!” Rarity stood up as fast as she could, for some seconds there was an awkward silence beetween Sweetie Belle and Twilight both startled at Rarity's sudden reaction, she cleared her throat and regained her composure. “I mean… just stay here darling, I will do it.” Sweetie Belle knew that reaction all to well, her older sister didn’t trust her in the kitchen in the slightest, Sweetie Belle sighed softly, she couldn’t blame her since she, somehow, was able to burn even the water.
“Are you sure everything is fine Sweetie Belle?” Twilight asked. “You’re not with your friends and you’re more silent than what can be considered normal.” 'Is she saying I’m noisy?' Sweetie Belle thought to herself, Twilight noticed the look of discomfort in Sweetie Belle, she chuckled awkwardly before speaking again “… anyway, if something is bothering you, you should talk about it with Rarity.” Twilight seemed genuinely worried, Sweetie Belle wondered if she was being too obvious. “Or to me if I can be of any help”. 
“No miss Twilight.” Sweetie Belle gave her best fake smile “I just  uh… wanted to know how… how can I control my magic better!” The little unicorn lied. Twilight saw the opportunity to teach some basics to one of her best friend's sister, how can she pass up somepony interested in magic?
“Well… I can certainly be of help with that…”
“Of course.” Said Rarity bringing back the cup of cocoa to her little sister.” In fact there is nopony more qualified than Twilight for that task.” Sweetie Belle smiled taking a sip of her hot beverage. “Tell you what, why don’t you take Twilight with you after we’re finished I’m sure you could understand her better than you would with any of my attempts to teach you about magic.”
“Are you sure Rarity? I mean I just arrived.”
“I know Twilight, but to be honest I have an awful lot of work to do, and this is a great opportunity for my sister to learn something from somepony who knows magic perfectly, I wouldn’t even know where to start and I'm not really good at teaching."

So now Sweetie Belle had to take magic lessons from an Alicorn Princess, Princess Twilight herself, which, after being finished with the cocoa was in the little filly's room.

Twilight stood in front of Sweetie Belle smiling, Sweetie Belle hasn’t really met her well, she was almost a celebrity in Equestria because she saved Equestria many times with the help of her friends, recently crowned a Princess of Equestria, thousands of ponies owed their life to her. The little unicorn smiled back nodding so Twilight knew when to start.

“So, what exactly is it you’re trying to learn Sweetie?”
“Uhm… well a lot of things! Maybe changing things into another, or levitate really big things! Or Teleportation!” Sweetie squeaked. Twilight chuckled.
“Easy there Sweetie Belle.” Twilight started to walk around the little filly starting her lesson. “Those kind of spells require a lot of study and practice, also you need to have really good habits, because a unicorn can’t perform spells if their bodies can’t take the use of energy, that’s why overweight unicorns are weaker.” That was new information for Sweetie Belle, who would have thought? You need to be fit for using magic. “So learning those spells will take a lot of time.” Sweetie Belle looked down, her ears pointing to the floor. “Show me what are you able to do.”
“Yeah, sure.” Sweetie Belle pointed her horn to a chair and moved it.
“Basic telekinesis, good.” Encouraged by Twilight’s words she tried to levitate the chair, the green aura of her horn got brighter and at this point Sweetie Belle was already making too much effort. “Alright, you can focus in one object-“ The little filly finally lost control as the chair fell loudly to the floor, in its way down it landed on a little board Sweetie Belle had to draw or write her homework which was conveniently leaned on a pillow and had a ball at the end of it, making the ball fly directly into Twilight’s face. Twilight covered her eyes and shook her head.
“Ugh…” She grunted massaging the part where she was directly hit.
“I’m sorry miss Twilight! I just couldn’t hold it anymore!” The little unicorn panicked while Twilight showed annoyance in her eyes.
“Its okay Sweetie.” Twilight stood straight and looked at Sweetie Belle who seemed really worried. “Well! I got some news for you.” 'She won’t teach me again right? I’m such a lost cause!'
Sweetie Belle had her ears flattened as if she was about to get scolded or yelled at. Twilight walked around Sweetie Belle using her magic to put the chair where it was originally.
“Your magic has the potential to be extremely powerful” the little unicorn's ears perked up paying attention to the words Twilight just said.
“…Huh?” Sweetie Belle showed Twilight a semblance of confusion, extremely powerful? She could barely control her magic, and when she tried to do something more complicated she ended up causing a mess.
“Yes, your spark is green, it’s a very special kind of magic.” Twilight smiled stopping her steps in front of the little unicorn. “But it is the hardest one to control.”
“Green spark?” Sweetie Belle asked raising an eyebrow. She could see the green aura that glowed around her horn whenever she tried to use her magic, yet nobody told her it was a special glow, Sweetie Belle thought that it was the lack of reading on the matter, a unicorn should always study, maybe not at the same level of Twilight, but it was still needed.
“Every unicorn has a spark of magic unique to each one of them.” Twilight levitated a notebook and some crayons Sweetie Belle had on a desk in her room, and drew horns painting each one of them with different colors. “The bearer of a purple spark is a intellectual specialist, is a magic capable of full control of physics, its basis is knowledge, the more knowledge the more powerful it becomes.”
“That is your spark right Miss Twilight?” Twilight chuckled looking at Sweetie Belle who had already curious eyes, it was ways a satisfaction to see other ponies curious about learning something new.
“Yes, my spark is purple as you can see. There’s the blue spark, more like a light blue. The unicorns with a blue spark are the finest of artists, they can focus their magic in multiple objects and be very exact with each one of them. Blacksmiths, painters, sculptors-“
“Dress designers…” Sweetie Belle thought out lot.
“Exactly, Rarity has this kind of spark, her focus is admirable, I could only use my levitation at her same level as a part of my high level studies its basis is creativity, inspiration for beautiful things.”
“Wow…” Twilight was beaming, 'Do I have an apprentice? That would be so great!' Twilight cleared her throat stopping herself, Twilight was an apprentice herself, and she wouldn’t know how interested in magic Sweetie Belle would be in the future, her special talent was singing anyway.

On the other hoof, Sweetie Belle felt really comfortable with Twilight, it surprised her when she realized she has been with Royalty for such a long time, Twilight was a great Princess, candidate to be her favorite of all.

“What about this one?” Sweetie Belle asked looking at a strange color on the notebook.
“That one has not been seen anymore.” Twilight looked at the notebook along with the little filly. “The grey spark is chaotic, that kind of unicorn was a specialist in… dark magic, magic capable of manipulation and murder.” Sweetie Belle gasped softly at the new information, ponies killing ponies was atrocious. “It was considered a curse by some, its basis is hate and indifference those unicorns could control other ponies mind, make them do things they wouldn’t normally do, even committing suicide… using them like if they were puppets” Sweetie Belle instantly felt uneasy about that one spark, but saw the green one, she placed her hoof on the notebook.
“This is mine! What about it Twilight?” Sweetie Belle had a wide smile om her lips, Twilight rushed to explain.
“Green sparks are rare; it can be tough to control it but it can be capable of everything the other sparks can do.” Sweetie Belle was always frustrated about the difficulty she had in using her magic, it made sense now. “It is hard because of its basis, which are feelings, whenever strong feelings are involved stronger magic can be used.” Twilight closed the notebook, smiling at Sweetie Belle. “Being in love for example is one of the strongest feelings, and the bearers of green sparks can perform spells beyond their own understanding, but feelings are also chaotic, so sometimes they can lose control.” A moment of silence passed in which the little filly thought for a moment in her crush, Apple Bloom entered Sweetie's heart not too long ago, and since she's been able to control her magic a little bit better, Sweetie Belle smiled, thanking Apple Bloom in silence.
“I see you have somepony in mind.” Twilight’s voice woke the little filly up, her white coat could do nothing to cover the fierce blush that invaded her cheeks.
“No! I uh… I was just…!” Twilight waved a hoof, juvenile crushes were embarrassing, and Sweetie Belle had the right to maintain her privacy.
“That’s wonderful, don’t worry, I won’t ask more about that.” Twilight sighed. “Starswirl The Bearded had a green spark did you know that?”
“The Starswirl? The most famous unicorn?”
“Yes, him, and everypony knows about his achievements.” Twilight got up and using her magic she brought a book from the library of her castle. “Look, a unicorn must learn about atoms, molecules, how the chemistry and physics works in order to control the environment where magic will be used, you can even produce light and write in mid air.” Twilight’s horn glowed once again and her name was written in mid air, disappearing like a trail of smoke.
“Miss Twilight! That one is awesome! Can you make any figure? 
“Yeah” Twilight drew a purple heart of light which floated for a while before disappearing. “For this one for example you have to understand photons and how do they work, its all science.” Watching the heart floating an idea began to appear in Sweetie Belle's mind, until this moment she hasn't considered the possibility to confess her feelings, this simple spell could be of use when Sweetie Belle found the right moment to tell Apple Bloom her feelings, she dreamed a little imagining her and the farmer filly watching a sunset, and then, Sweetie Belle performing this spell writing her feelings in front of her crush, she trembled with emotion at the thought of Apple Bloom hugging her and accepting her feelings, maybe it was too romantic, maybe she inherited that from her older sister, but still it looked like a good idea, Sweetie Belle smiled until the last trace of the heart was gone, 'Having Twilight here was the best idea ever!'.  “This book helped me a lot while I was studying basics of magic.” The book levitated in front of Sweetie Belle. “Would you like to take a look at it?”
“Yes of course! I promise I will read it! Thank you miss Twilight!” Sweetie Belle hugged the Alicorn tightly, causing a soft blush on Twilight, the little filly was excited and with good reason ‘It is almost certain that her magic is improving because of a crush, she’s growing up’.
"I'm glad that I could help, and please, just call me Twilight."