//------------------------------// // Prologue: A Morning Trial // Story: To Be Magical // by Lux //------------------------------// To Be Magical By Lux Chapter One – Prologue – A Morning Trial The sun had risen over the town of Ponyville, ushering in a new day. In one particular building, a circular shaped structure near the edge of town that looked like a carousel, a white unicorn filly’s eyes slowly opened as the sunlight streamed through her bedroom window. She stretched and yawned, her body fighting her to go back to sleep for a few precious minutes. Her mind, however, was on a mission, a desire to take advantage of the day starting at that very moment. Finally her body relented and the filly got out of bed, stretching her legs and back out, before quietly opening the door to her room and leaving. She slowly walked down the hall, pausing before a similar door that was closed. Putting her ear to the door, she could hear the gentle soft snoring of her sister on the other side. The filly mused how her older sister always appeared graceful even while asleep, before making her way downstairs. “Now what should I use,” she said to nopony in particular as she looked about the kitchen. The place, like most of the house and shop, was perfectly clean and organized. In fact the white unicorn could only recall one place that once was much disorganized, her sister’s planning room. She remembered how upset the mare was when she cleaned it, but things turned out fine in the end. Finally she saw it: a vase sitting on the kitchen table with a rose in it. This was to be her object that she would use. “Alright,” she said getting up on the chair, “Let’s see if this works.” She concentrated on the vase, visualizing her goal to levitate the vase up in the air, and tried to let the energy flow to her horn to make it possible. After stretching and straining and focusing she looked at the vase and to her surprise it did nothing. “Awww come on,” she shouted before putting her hooves over her mouth, realizing that her sister was sleeping directly above. To her relief she didn’t hear her stir as she wiped her brow in relief. “Ok,” she said in a much quieter tone, “Maybe if I put all my energy into this, I can move that vase.” She focused on the glass item in the center with all her might, gritting her teeth and straining her muscles as if she was trying to move something heavy. “Come on,” she said as sweat poured down her face, “Move you stupid vase.” As the filly battled the vase, Rarity slept peacefully in her bed. As she rested, she had the most wonderful of dreams, imagining that she was a world famous fashion designer premiering her latest collection with a herd of models clad in her wears strutting on the runway as a crowd of ponies gazed in amazement. The hypnotic music and stage lights mixed with the flashes of cameras as news reporters clamored for her attention backstage. And then as if her time couldn’t be any better, there she was, Princess Celestia and Luna asking her to be their royal designer! The dream was reaching its apex of happiness when suddenly… Crash! The sound awoke Rarity from her sleep, making her sit bolt upright. She tore off her night mask that blocked her eyes and looked about the room trying to find the source of the sound. “Sweetie Belle,” she said as she got up and headed out of her bedroom, her mind fixated on the worst possible thing that she was being robbed. She looked into her sister’s room and saw to her shock that the filly was not there. “Oh no,” Rarity said, “This is the worst possible thing! They took Sweetie Belle!” She ran downstairs, hoping that her sister was there, her mind already pondering the possibility of having to find her friends and go on a search party. Maybe it was the Diamond Dogs seeking revenge or that Sweetie Belle had gone out with her Crusader friends. The possibilities were infinite in her mind, each more dire than the last. She made her way to the kitchen and saw Sweetie Belle passed out on the floor, an overturned kitchen chair nearby and a shattered vase close by. “Oh Sweetie Belle,” she said galloping over to her and holding the filly in her forelegs, “Oh, please wake up for me!” “R…Rarity,” Sweetie Belle said as her eyes fluttered open at the sound of her sister calling. “Oh Sweetie Belle, thank goodness you’re alright,” Rarity exclaimed as she hugged her sister, “What happened?” “I… I tried to move the vase with my magic but I guess I passed out,” she said looking around until she saw the shattered vase, “Sorry about the vase.” “That’s alright darling,” Rarity said, “It doesn’t matter as long as you are safe. But why were you trying to do magic in the morning?” “I thought that I would surprise you by doing it, so I could show you that I can be just as great at magic as you are.” “Sweetie darling, you don’t have to prove anything to me. I’ll still love you no matter what. As for your magic, it may take time to develop.” “Yeah, like my cutie mark,” she said looking at her blank flank with disgust. “Now don’t get upset about that. I am certain you will find your mark, and your magic really soon. Who knows, maybe the two will be tied together like some unicorns I know like Twilight Sparkle.” Sweetie Belle’s eyes lit up at the thought of being like Twilight, a pony that she admired almost as much as her sister. She was a shining example of a mare with an amazing prowess for magic and who was very smart. To be even a tiny part as magical as Twilight or Rarity would be a dream come true. “Thanks Rarity,” Sweetie Belle said. “You’re welcome Sweetie Belle. Now go upstairs and get ready for school. I’ll have breakfast for you when you come down.” “What about the vase,” Sweetie Belle said looking at the shattered remains. “You leave that to me. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Now run along.” “Ok,” Sweetie Belle said as she bounded up the stairs leaving Rarity to clean up the mess. With a sigh the white unicorn mare levitated a small broom and a dustpan and began to sweep up the pieces of glass. “Oh Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said to herself, “I’m trying to help you with your magic, but I’m not doing a very good job with it. It’s one thing to use it, but it’s another thing entirely to teach it. I think I need some help, and I know just the pony to talk to about this. I hope she’s open to help.” With a plan in mind she threw away the vase and began to prepare breakfast for her and Sweetie Belle.