The Storm's Challenge

by OneLonelyPickle


15 - Secret Spell

Chapter 15

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Secret Spell

When Pinkie finally reached the Golden Oak Library, she was surprised to see light still shining through its windows. Spike was snoring peacefully on Pinkie’s back.

Pinkie noticed the door had a “CLOSED” sign on it as she went inside. Fluttershy was tucking in a deer with a thin, wispy sheet. Several animals, all of different shapes and sizes, like beavers, rabbits, and a great, big bear, were similarly covered in summer blankets and breathing in and out in a calm slumber, strewn about the library on make-shift beds. The library itself, otherwise, looked well-cared for and organized, just as if Twilight herself was at home. Fluttershy turned to the entrance and whispered to Pinkie.

“There you two are” Fluttershy noticed Spike and smiled – “Aww, he fell asleep again? Long day?”

Pinkie nodded with her ears drawn back. “Really long. I’m sorry we were gone all day, Fluttershy.” She ascended the stairs to put Spike in his bed and Fluttershy whisper-shouted loud enough so she could hear.

“Oh, it’s no problem. Bushwhacker, the animals and I had a great day!”

Pinkie made sure Spike was comfortable and covered in his blanket. She felt compelled to watch his rhythmic breathing as he dozed, thinking of how tired she herself was. Fluttershy crept beside her.

“Isn’t he just the cutest little baby dragon ever?”

Pinkie agreed with a smile and nod. “Are you sure it’s not a big deal? I feel pretty bad. I just didn’t realize how late it was by the time Spike and I left.”

Fluttershy shook her head adamantly.

“Please, Pinkie, it was great! Any day I can spend with my animal friends and a fellow animal lover, helping my other friends, well, that’s a perfect day in my books.”

Fluttershy motioned at all the library books. “Get it? Books?” Pinkie snickered quietly. Fluttershy beamed and a light squee escaped her lips.

Fluttershy touched a hoof to her chin. “Oh, but, you don’t think Spike will mind if we stay the night, do you? The critters were just so tuckered out.” She grabbed Pinkie’s shoulders. “Oh and do you think Twilight would be mad if I slept in her bed? I’ll definitely wash the sheets tomorrow, and fluff the pillows before I go!” Pinkie smirked.

“I think you’ll be fine,” Pinkie muffled a huge yawn – Fluttershy.” She felt her eyelids droop and her voice became even quieter than a whisper. “Actually, I have to,” – Another yawn – “Tell you something.”

Fluttershy didn't hear Pinkie and started to fly around the library, ensuring all the windows were shut and locked and that all the candles were blown out. Pinkie was swaying where she stood, halfway between the waking world and the dozing, snoring, drooling world. Fluttershy finished her tasks and came back upstairs, with one final candle to blow out remaining, when she noticed the state of her friend.

“Uhh, Pinkie?” Fluttershy waved a hoof in front of her friend’s face. Pinkie snapped out of her funk with a harsh rattle of her head.

“Who? What?” Pinkie half-shouted, which made Spike stir in his sleep with a groan. Fluttershy corked Pinkie’s mouth with a hoof.

“How about you, umm, just stay here for the night? You look pretty beat. I don’t mind sharing the bed.”

Pinkie had a happy, dopey look on her face as she nodded, slowly and rhythmically.

“Thanks, Flutterbutter… but first I have to tell you about–” Pinkie fell asleep standing up with a smile. Fluttershy gently led her friend to the bed, lifted back the covers and helped her flop inside.

“Whatever it is, Pinkie...” Fluttershy’s voice was a murmur. “You can tell me tomorrow.”

The yellow mare then blew out the last candle and carefully entered the bed on her side. She nestled into the crisp sheets and closed her eyes, feeling the cozy warmth wash over her. Spike’s snoring and Pinkie’s breathing reverberated throughout the room, and outside the window the creatures of a summer night were chirping and croaking with gusto.

Fluttershy felt her senses drain away as night took hold.

* * *

Twilight stared through faintly glowing cell bars at a snoring guard. His head hung back over the chair he was slouched in and his giant mouth was opening and closing with each snore. It was a good thing she had napped earlier, as there was no way to sleep now.

Not like I feel much like sleeping in this situation.

She blew her mane out of her face and rolled over. She rolled back the other way and sighed with annoyance. She looked up to the jail cell walls, slightly gleaming with a magenta glow, like the cell bars. Twilight studied them with intense focus.

There’s got to be some way out of here if my magic won’t work… She halfheartedly powered up yet another teleportation spell. It crackled with eldritch static when ready, but instead of being hoisted to magical safety, Twilight felt her body slam against the wall with a thud.

Okay, Twilight thought while holding her spinning, throbbing head, Twentieth time is NOT the charm…

Twilight’s grey, stone cell was dark, only illuminated partially by a candle blazing behind the guard, and not much to look at, but it was at least room temperature, and there were no rats or other strange, gross critters running about. Nothing like the stories where princesses were locked away in distant dungeons where they awaited the rescue of a dashing prince.

There’s not going to be any prince coming to my rescue, though.

Twilight frowned. She looked through her jail window up at the few stars she could see twinkling. Nopony except Celestia and probably Luna knew where she was, and neither would suspect she had been put into a cell. Twilight couldn’t have thought of anything else to do in her previous situation, though.

I’ll sort this out once I can talk face-to-face with Tsunami.

The only good thing about being imprisoned in the palace of a foreign country was, strangely enough, the food. So far Twilight had received three more-than-square meals, expertly crafted, hefty dishes presented on fine porcelain. It made Twilight hopeful that Prince Tsunami respected her position as one of Equestria’s princesses, and simply did not have time to see her. The whole jail thing might have been a necessary precaution, at least from the Clopstantinople point of view.

Twilight sat up and stared at the floor as she thought about her task.

I’ll figure out what Prince Tsunami’s up to without using THAT spell. That’s the diplomatic way of doing things. That’s the Equestrian way.

Celestia’s regal face and flowing, river-like mane of multi-colors entered Twilight’s thoughts. There was a soft, tender smile on Celestia’s face, and one of her long, ivory hooves rested on Twilight’s shoulder.

I’m sure the spell she taught me was just a last resort. As the Princess of Friendship, it’s my duty to share the magic of friendship, but that doesn’t mean I need to USE magic to do it!

Still, the day had been long and boring, and Twilight had far too much time earlier to mull over the possible courses of action in her current predicament. She had mused over the possibility of a more… aggressive approach to her task. She had even tried to etch out a diagram on the cell wall separating “good” ideas from “bad” ones but found that her magic did not take to the wall for more than a few moments.

The guard made a weird throaty noise and shifted in his chair before resuming his loud slumber. Twilight perked up out of her focus.

But I trust Princess Celestia. If she said to use the spell, isn’t that what I should do?

Twilight laid down on her side and stared at her hoof.

But then again, maybe this is just a test! To see if I truly see her as an equal and that I can follow my own judgment.

It was true that Twilight found the adjustment particularly difficult, as Celestia had always been the ruler of Equestria, and then a teacher, to Twilight. Being a fellow princess and alicorn did little over the last year to change those feelings Twilight had had ever since she was a filly.

She turned over to her other side.

Maybe it’s a test of loyalty! To see if I can follow the directives of a fellow princess! If I DON’T use the spell, then Celestia will take it as a sign that I am not loyal enough to be one of the princesses!

She chewed on the end of a hoof. Strands of her purple in her mane started to pop up. Twilight’s thoughts escaped through her lips.

“Most importantly, what can I do from inside this stupid cell with no way out!” Her own outburst knocked her out of it again and she swerved around to see if she woke the guard. He only mumbled and flopped his head to the other side. Twilight sighed and stood up.

I need to keep it together.

Twilight inhaled a deep breath, making sure to savor each passing instance of calm. The inflation of her lungs was invigorating. She pictured a relaxing shade of purple in her mind. Once her lungs were engorged with air, she slowly breathed out. The entire process was nearly intoxicating. She was glad she picked up the practice from Fluttershy.

Much better.

She sat back on her haunches and stared resolutely at the door to her cell. It, too, was magic-proof, as she had found out earlier. And staring back at the guard and the key hanging at his side, she remembered how much of a failure it was to try and use her magic to retrieve said key to escape. Whatever material was stopping her magic, it seemed to have an aura, so that Twilight’s magic couldn’t even snake through the gaps in the cell bars.

Escape isn’t an option at this point unless I do something REALLY drastic with my magic, and that will only guarantee the breakdown of any possible relations with Clopstantinople. All I can do is keep asking about Prince Tsunami and try to get an audience with him.

Twilight laid down on a hay bed off to one corner and closed her eyes. She began to meditate.

Calm. Focus. Patience.