The sun had hardly come up over the tops of the trees when Spike, now awake, went downstairs from his small bed to the rest of the library in the tree.
“Twilight? What are you doing?”
“Research.”
“On what?”
“Magic surges.”
“Huh?”
“Well, when a unicorn like Rarity and I gets a surge, a lot of magic can be used. It's like letting the syrup in a bottle all collect at the top so it comes out faster when you tip it upside down.”
“Oh. Well, why would you need research on that?”
“Because surges are powerful, elusive things. You can have positive surges and negative surges. The positive ones give unicorns much more ability than normal. Negative ones drain the energy to use magic.”
“When do they happen?”
“When another source of powerful magic either gives off magic, it's positive.When it is so powerful it takes away from others' magic to supply its own, it's a negative.”
“So, you had a surge?”
“Yes. The largest negative one I've ever had. I can't even use a simple levitation spell.”
“So, it's just you?”
“Magic surges usually happen to a single unicorn, but if they're powerful enough, they can effect up to fifteen unicorns.”
“Why does it happen?”
“Wow, Spike. I've never seen you ask this many questions about my work. What happened?”
“Well, I was wondering if it happened to anypony else.”
“Only because I mentioned Rarity, correct?”
“Well- yes.”
“I knew it. Well, the causes are usually positive due to an herbal blend that somepony smells or drinks in a tea. Negatives are usually the same, but when somepony tries to do something like the time travel spell we did when I met myself from the past.”
“So, it's probably just you?”
“Most likely.”
Just after Twilight finished her sentence, Pinkie Pie burst through the door with Rarity on her back.
“Twilight! Spike! Thank Celestia!”
“Pinkie, why do you have Rarity on your back?” Spike asked
“Sweetie Belle- then fainting- then the 'Twilight always knows what to'- and the 'Zecora!'- then the falling Derpy-”
“Whoa, Pinkie! Take a deep breath, and explain what happened.” Twilight demanded.
“Okie-dokie lokie. Well, Sweetie Belle rushed down to Sugar Cube Corner, and told me to help. So, I went to Carousel Boutique, and Rarity couldn't perform her spells. Then Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew over us, then Emerald rushed by the door to meet some other stallion, and then Rarity just fainted. Sweetie gasped and said she got all weak. Then she reminded us that you always know what to do. Then Zecora might, too. Then Emerald rushed by us with some other stallion chasing after him, and Derpy fell out of the sky, but somepony was watching her and put her on the ground before she hit. Then we got here.”
“Wow. Spike, go find Fluttershy and Emerald, and bring them here. Pinkie, go find Sweetie Belle and tell her to come here. Then go get Zecora, and bring her here.”
The two rushed out, and Twilight was alone with Rarity.
“I knew something was coming. I knew it.”
Spike ran to Fluttershy's cottage. He ran across the bridge, and up the stairs.
*Knock, Knock*
“Hello- oh, hi Spike.”
“Hi Fluttershy. Where is Emerald?”
“He's around here somewhere.”
“Well, could you two come to the library? Something AWFUL happened to Rarity and Sweetie Belle- Rarity fainted, and Sweetie Belle got sick. Twilight thinks you two could help us.”
“Oh, dear. I'll go find him and be over right away.”
“Thanks, Fluttershy.”
Spike ran to the library as fast as his small, purple legs would carry him. He was almost there when he tripped on a log. Then, something unexpected happened. He grew, just like before. His legs grew almost six whole inches (15 cm), and his arms grew four inches (10 cm). He entered the library.
“Twili- wow. My voice sounds EPIC!”
“Spike? Oh, not again.”
“Fluttershy and Emerald are on their way.”
“Twilight? I don't feel so good.” A small white unicorn stated.
“Come here, Sweetie. Can you use your magic?”
“I've never been able to, so that's a big no.”
“Okay.Can you tell me what weak exactly means?”
Before she could get a response, Emerald entered, leading Fluttershy.
“Twilight Sparkle, you wanted to see me and Fluttershy?”
“Yes, one moment. Take a seat wherever, I guess. So, what were you saying Sweetie?”
“Oh, like my joints hurt and I feel a teeny bit dizzy.”
“Okay, then. Spike will bring you over a chair.”
Twilight walked over to Fluttershy.
“Do you think you can help Sweetie Belle and Rarity for a moment until Zecora gets here?”
“I can try.”
“Thanks. Emerald, do you remember being near Carousel Boutique?”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah, why?”
“Who were you with?”
“Fluttershy.”
“What about Rainbow Dash?”
“We saw her.”
Twilight wondered why he was being so short with his answers. His eyebrows were in a fixed look of suspicion towards Twilight. He wasn't telling her something.
“Who else?”
“Nopony.”
“So no other Pegasus?”
“Nope.”
“You sure?”
“One hundred percent.”
“Okay.”
“Why?”
“I'm just trying to figure out what caused the magic surge. It caused Rarity to pass out.”
“Did it? That's awful.”
“Yes, it is.”
Emerald walked over to Fluttershy when Pinkie Pie came back.
“Zecora's gone!” Pinkie Pie shouted.
“Oh dear.” Twilight said.