//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Magic of Love // by MysteriousStranger //------------------------------// “I’m the worst pony in all of Equestria, Spike! I shouldn’t have said that!” Twilight was laying on her bed with her pillow on her face while Spike was by her side, trying to comfort her. “No, you aren't, Twilight. You were being honest! Giving her a false impression would have been worse.” “I hurt her feelings, Spike. You should have seen her face!” The young dragon clambered onto the bed, removed the pillow from her hooves, and put his claws on her shoulders. “Listen to me, Twilight. She would have wanted you to say the truth... Just think--what would have happened if you lied to her? Give her a false illusion, and the truth eventually came to light. it would have made her feel even worse than now… There’s nothing you can do; you can’t force yourself to fall in love with her…” Twilight's eyes widened--why didn’t she think of that before? “Yes I can!” Spike was confused. “What do you mean?” The Unicorn moved quickly, starting her search for a book. “The love potion Spike, I can force myself to love Fluttershy; I can do it!” “What? Twilight, no! You know that isn’t right! You wouldn’t be really falling in love with her!” “I have to do it, Spike. I don’t want her to be sad.” “But what about you, Twilight? You can’t do this to yourself... Think about it!” “There’s nothing to think about. This will make Fluttershy happy. Here it is!” Spike jumped and removed the book from her hooves. “I won’t let you do this, Twilight Sparkle!” “Spike… Give me that book now!” Twilight’s eyes shined with anger. It was a rage that Spike had never seen before... But this wasn’t the time to be scared. He had to do this for his friend. “No, you're too blind to see what you are doing, Twilight. Listen to what you're saying!” Twilight tried to retrieve the book with magic, but Spike resisted. “Give…me…back…the book!” “Not until you promise me you won’t use the love potion!” “I have to, Spike!” “No, you don’t. This isn’t the right way and you know it!” Spike stared at Twilight and saw that she had her eyes closed, concentrating. Knowing what was about to happen, he let go of the book. His prediction was right--it hit Twilight square in the muzzle and made her fall on the floor. The purple dragon hurried towards his friend, took the book, and threw it outside the window. He then helped Twilight get up. “Are you okay?” The Unicorn put a hoof on her head. “Ouch, Spike! That hurt me!” “Sorry, Twilight... But I had to do it; you were out of control…” Twilight sighed. “...You’re right, Spike. It’s just that I wanted to make Fluttershy happy again… Thanks for stopping me.” “You’re not mad at me?” “Why would I? You did the right thing; I can’t force myself to love somepony... It has to be natural. Princess Celestia will want to know what I just learned, but first, let’s get that book back and put it in its place.” “I’m on it!” Spike headed towards the door and opened it, but he didn’t move any further. He just stood there staring outside. “Spike, what is it?” “I think we have a problem…” He said still looking outside. “What? The book its gone?” “No, but you'll wish it was…” “What’s wrong?” Twilight stood behind him too see what was he talking about. “What is it, Spike…? Oh no...!” The book was open on the instructions to make a love potion, but that wasn’t the problem. Fluttershy was reading it, and she wasn’t alone. Rarity was with her as well as a group of birds. Both Spike and Twilight were frozen in place. Fluttershy looked directly at Twilight after finishing. “You… You were about to make a…love potion?” The Unicorn didn’t realize that she was holding her breath until she tried to talk. She took some deep breaths and tried to explain her. “It’s not what it looks like…” “So, you weren’t trying to force yourself to love me…?” “Well…” Fluttershy looked away. “Twilight, I would never have expected this from you! I would never want you to do that--I want your feelings to be real!” Twilight tried to approach to her. “Fluttershy! Listen to me…!” But Fluttershy galloped away. Twilight tried to follow her, but the birds surrounded her and prevented her from seeing or moving. When they left, Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. Twilight sat on her haunches and sighed; not trying to stop her tears. “You were actually going to make a love potion?” Rarity asked incredulously. “No… I was thinking on making it at first, but Spike made me realize that it was wrong… Spike!” The purple Unicorn glared at Spike. “Why did you throw the book outside?!” Spike stepped back, looking directly into her eyes. “How was I supposed to know?!” “Look what you've done! Now Fluttershy won’t ever look at me again!” “But... But…!” He was scared and didn’t know what to do. At this rate, Twilight might kick him out from the library. “Hold it right there, Twilight Sparkle! You can’t blame Spike for this; the poor dragon couldn’t possibly have known!” Twilight closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down. “You’re right… This is all my fault…” “Twilight…” “No, Rarity… It is my fault and I have to face the consequences… Tomorrow, I’ll go to talk to her to try to fix this…” Twilight entered the library and headed to her bedroom, in silence. “Rarity… Thanks for helping us…” “Don’t mention it, Spike. I just hope Twilight fixes this…”