Supernova

by Incredible_E


166

"I think we need to cast Spherical Prison, now."

Starlight looked over the spell. "I'm not sure this is a 'we' effort, just you. It says only pure alicorn magic can cast the spell."

"Hmmm," Twilight lifted her hoof to her chin in thought. "I know how you can help, Starlight."

"How's that?"

"You can use a donation spell to give me your magical capabilities. As long as you keep the pulse active, it will add to my own power, guaranteeing that this spell works against the sun."

"Good idea, Twilight. I would be happy to help."

They walked down the large halls of the castle, climbed the stairs to the second floor, and stepped out onto the balcony.

"Wow, it's hot out here," Starlight noticed, as the balcony's floor was almost too hot for her hooves.

She teleported the thermometer to her and waited a bit.

"Umm . . . Twilight."

"Yes?"

"It's hotter than it was an hour ago."

"Well yeah, it gets hotter until the early afternoon."

"No . . . Like it's a LOT hotter."

"Now that you say it, it does feel too hot out here to be 100. It might even be hotter than that. What is it?"

"It's 165."

"Huh!? Okay, something is definitely going on with the sun."

Twilight looked up — not directly at the sun — and noticed it was slightly redder, perhaps even a tad . . . bigger.

"Alright,—" Twilight said, stretching "—are you ready?"

Starlight nodded in confirmation.

Twilight's horn lit up as she conducted the spell. Starlight began her donation spell, increasing Twilight's magical power. A purple blast beamed from her horn and raced toward the growing star. Eventually, the spell arrived and surrounded the sun with ease, trapping it with ease.

"Yes, we did it!" Starlight celebrated.

"Well," Twilight mused, "that was easy. Want to go get ice cream?"

"Nothing better than that on a hot day after saving the world - again."

They left the castle for the first time that day and went to search for the ice cream stand run by none other than Bulk Biceps.

"Don't you also have a nut stand?" Starlight looked around for that very cart.

"In the summer, I work my ice cream stand instead. What flavors do you want?" Bulk Biceps offered.

"I'd like mint, please."

"Mint?" Twilight blurted.

"Yeah, mint! What is wrong with mint?"

"Oh, nothing . . . just, you might as well brush your teeth with it."

Starlight snickered, "Hmph, what flavor are you going to get then? Probably something vanilla, like chocolate."

They both paused and held back a chuckle together, but it was futile. They burst out in synchronous laughter.

"Vanilla. Like chocolate. Hahaha." Instantly, Twilight stopped laughing and switched to a dead serious face. "No."

"What is it then? I swear if you say vani—."

"I like coffee ice cream."

Starlight had her mouth open like she was going to say something, but nothing came out. It took a moment, but finally, she said, "Oh, that's actually a pretty good flavor."

"Right away." Bulk took the scooper and loaded it with mint. He put the ball of pretend toothpaste on the cone, but his immense strength crushed it. He smiled and blushed a little. "Sorry, I'll get another."

"Thanks," Starlight said sweetly while holding back a giggling smile.

"No problem!"

The next pony in line stepped up for their ice cream once Twilight and Starlight paid and walked away.

It was then that a soul-trembling rumble ruined the fresh, delicate peace.

Twilight and Starlight took a guess and looked up at the sun, hoping to be wrong. Unfortunately, they were correct. The shield around the sun had begun developing visible cracks, shaking the world below as they gave way under the sun's strength.

Grrrrr-CRACK

Pieces of the protective barrier evaporated as it shattered. The sun, now freed from its confines, jumped back into action right where it would have been if never imprisoned at all. From a warm-orange ball to a scorching-red star, it had returned.

The white-hot heat crashed in one big wave that covered all of Equestria. Lyra's new ice cream quickly melted and plopped on the ground. She frowned.

. . .