//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Power of the Mind // by Bookpony579 //------------------------------// For the first hour or so, business was slow. Most people just gave her tent a curious glance before going to check out the other booths. Finally a woman came in. All Twilight had to do was give her a few readings based on her palm lines. The woman left, satisfied with her reading. I have to remember to thank Luna for that guide later. A few minutes later a little girl came in. Twilight pretended to look into the crystal ball and tell her about her 'future' as a glamorous movie star. The girl left excitedly to tell her mother the news. Gradually more and more people went to get their fortune told, with Twilight shifting between palm readings and looking into the 'future' with the crystal ball. Thankfully Rainbow was quite competent at collecting money and keeping the line in check. "Wow! Bonnie was right! You really do look like a gypsie!" Twilight recognized her next client as one of her classmates, Lyra Heartstrings. "Romane." Twilight quickly corrected before getting back into character."I am Madame Sparkle. What do you wish to know?" She asked in a dramatic fortune teller voice. "Can you tell me how I'm going to do at my harp recital tomorrow?" Lyra asked as she sat down. "I've been practicing for weeks and I want to know how I'm going to do." "I can only tell you what I see." With that Twilight waved her hands dramatically over the crystal ball and looked into it. After a moment, she was ready to tell Lyra that she was to do great at her recital when something happened. The crystal ball was no longer clear. A foggy image was making it's way through. Twilight stared intensely at it as more of the image revealed itself. It was slightly fuzzy, but Twilight could make out Lyra in bed, looking even greener than usual, with a wet cloth over her forehead. "I...I see you home in bed. Sick with something....maybe a stomach bug?" Lyra immediately became upset at this. "Oh no! That means I'm going to miss my recital!" Twilight looked up from the ball and tried to comfort her. "Look, it's just a guess ok? Your going to do great." Twilight tried to sound sure, but her voice wobbled. She looked back at the ball and saw that the image was gone. Lyra nodded uneasily before quickly leaving the tent. Twilight took a moment to think. What the heck just happened!? Meanwhile, Luna was in the Lair to retrieve some papers she had left there earlier when she noticed something unusual. She looked at the Element case and saw that the Element of Magic was beeping! "That's odd..." A few more costumers came by and fortunately Twilight was able to satisfy their needs through simple palm readings. Twilight just wanted to forget about the incident with Lyra and be done with it. "Hey, carnival is ending soon. How are you holding up?" Rainbow checked up on her right after the next costumer left. "Fine. Just starting to get a little tired. How many more people?" "Only two. Then we're both good for the night." Twilight gave a sigh of relief at this. Next was a boy Twilight recognized as Micro Chips. She was all set to do a palm reading when... "Actually, do you mind telling me my "future"?" He used air quotes around the word future. "I just want to see what you can come up with." Twilight nodded and hoped it would be different this time. But as she looked into the ball, another image waved into existence. In it, she could see Micro carrying a box of equipment. He couldn't see where he was going and tripped over something. He was then clutching his ankle in pain. The image faded. Twilight just stared blankly into the ball for a minute, unable to comprehend what she just saw. "Uh...are you ok?" Micro asked. Twilight blinked and looked back at him. "Yeah, I'm fine. Look, just...be careful where you step ok? Especially if your carrying something." Micro looked confused but just nodded and left. Twilight called Rainbow in. "Can we just end this now? I'm feeling tired." Twilight felt so confused right now. All she wanted to do was go home and figure out what was going on! "But you only have one more costumer! Besides...I think you'll like this one." Rainbow winked and ducked out before Twilight could say anything. Suddenly in walked a boy with a bomber jacket and blue hair. "Hey Twilight!" Flash Sentry greeted as he took a seat. "I heard you were doing fortunes tonight, You look great!" "Thanks." Twilight would normally be happy to see him but the strange events had drained her spirit a little. Flash noticed this. "Hey...are you ok?" "Oh, I'm fine. Just a little tired tonight. More fortunes than I expected." She tried to brush it aside, there was no need to worry anyone else about this. "Are you sure? I don't mind leaving now if that's ok." He started to get up to leave. "Oh no! It's alright. One more fortune can't hurt, right?" Twilight tried to reassure her self. "Well...if your up to it." He sat back down and Twilight looked into the crystal ball. After all, third times the charm? Please let it be nothing. Please let it be nothing. Unfortunately an image was already making itself known. In it, Flash was rubbing his head in frustration as he stood next to his car. It appeared to have a flat tire. The image disappeared and Twilight looked up. "Look, just be careful when driving alright? And always pack an extra tire." "Uh...ok? Are you alright?" He asked with concern. Twilight rubbed her temples. "Just a little headache." "The carnivals almost over anyway. I can help you pack up and drive you home." Twilight smiled at hime. "Thanks Flash. I'd appreciate that." "I hate to keep you, but do you mind doing one more fortune for me?" Twilight looked at the entrance and saw Luna there with a confused Rainbow standing nearby. "Actually, I was just about the pack up...." "I understand. But I've been hearing all about this from people and decided to get one myself." Twilight thought on this for a moment. She was tired and very confused and wanted to go home to figure out what was happening. But she also didn't want to let down her teacher slash Vice Principal. "It's ok. Have a seat." "Twilight..." Flash looked like he wanted to stop her. "It's alright Flash. Just one more and I'll be done for the night." Flash hesitated but nodded and went outside to wait with Rainbow. Luna took a seat and Twilight reached for her palm. "No. I want you to look into the ball and tell me my future." Luna's commanding tone surprised Twilight, and she tried to dissuade her. "Wouldn't you rather have your palm read?" "I can read my own palm just fine. I want you to look into the ball and tell me what you see." Luna's tone was one Twilight was familiar with. It meant she wanted something done, and she wanted it done now. Twilight sighed. "Alright." Luna smiled as Twilight looked into the ball. Immediately an image began to appear. It was of Luna, hopping in pain and clutching her foot in what appeared to be her kitchen. That was it and the image faded. "Uh...." "Well?" Luna raised an eyebrow. "It...was nothing. Just....be careful in the kitchen." Twilight's headache was much worse now. What was going on?! Luna simply nodded at this. "I'll be sure to listen. Are you alright?" "Just tired. I've got a bit of a headache too." Luna gave her a sympathetic smile. "The carnival should be over by now. I'll help you clean up." Sure enough people were leaving and students were packing up their booths. With Luna and Flash's help, Rainbow and Twilight managed to finish earlier than most. "Luna...do you mind lending me the crystal ball for a while?" Twilight asked nervously. She needed to study it, there had to be something up with it. Where could those images had been coming from? Fortunately Luna just smiled and asked no questions. "Of course. Keep it as long as you need." With that she left to help the other students pack up their booths. Flash eventually dropped Twilight off right outside her house. Twilight, still holding the crystal ball, thanked him. "It was no problem. Are you sure your alright?" "Like I said: I'm just tired. A good night's sleep should help with that." Twilight put on a nervous grin in an effort to convince him she was alright. He didn't completely buy it but wished her a good night anyway. Twilight entered the house and went straight to her bedroom. On the way, she could see the light's on and the sound of typing through the door to her mother's study. Twilight decided to check up on her and opened the door. There at the broad oak desk sat her mother typing furiously at the keyboard, eyes glued to the screen. She must have heard Twilight open the door because she asked: "How was the carnival sweetie?" "Tiring. I'm just gonna head to bed." Velvet just nodded at this, her eyes never leaving the screen as Twilight left the necklace on the desk and closed the door. Then, after a quick stop at the bathroom to wash her makeup off, she headed to her bedroom. There, she found Spike already fast asleep in his doggy bead. Twilight put the crystal ball on her desk, got out of her Romane outfit and put on her pajamas. She could examine the ball tomorrow. Maybe it was made of some kind of magic crystal? Or maybe Luna just put an enchantment on it to play some kind of joke? Surprisingly, the woman was known to these things from time to time. These thoughts immediately left Twilight's head as she hit the pillow and sleep washed over her.