//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: Might Be For Us 
// by Fat1thatyoulove 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 13 – Time flies

The elegant stone hallway maintains a slight chatter to it, both hooves and voices that stem from the young unicorns that travel down it's length, to their destination in the courtyard of the castle. There voice's are not particularly excited, but they all hold there own confidence to the idea that there previous two and a half weeks where hopefully not for nothing.

As the groups of ponies starts to leave the hallway the light orange pegasus brings his paused trot up again as he moves towards the mare's hallway. Under the stallion's folded down wings the heavy satchel, weighed down by the various math, and cloud-shaping books the young stallion still needs to study over on his one day break from school.

But for right now  his own studies are pushed to the back of his mind as he drifts into the hallway in search of the light purple mare that has yet to travel down it like her peers before her.

Sparky's trot holds but only for another moment as the gray crystal mare coming down the hall catches his eye, a friendly smile comes over the pegasus as he slows his walk a little. Over the last two and a half weeks Sparky and Violet have continued to meet up for their own study session, or for more of Violet's practice with her dream spell which she's been improving on. But their friendship has not been the only thing that has grown, seeing as how Sparky nine out of ten times is left to talk with the crystal mare while he waits for his friend.

Of course Sparky doesn't mind it, it turns out being a decently smart pegasus out to become a famous pony known for shaping clouds doesn't really scream for attention from the ponies he attends his primarily athletic based school with.

"Good day to you Sparky..." Starlight brings a warming smile over her face as she pauses her trot in the hallway as her well spoken tone holds.

Sparky nods his head as he stops his own trot, "Hi Starlight."

Starlight looks over the crammed satchel around Sparky's body as she speaks up, "I see you have your work cut out for you this day?" She cocks her head a little as she continues, "Might I ask what it's for?"

"Its just some studying things for the wonderbolts midterm test." The comment about the heavy bag around the stallion flare his wings out a little as he attempts to adjust them to their uncomfortable lay.

The gray crystal mare nods her head as she continues, "Um...I could help you-After my own exam of course." She waves her hoof a little as she quickly finishes her words, "I have always found pegasus learning interesting."

Sparky shrugs to the comment as he speaks up, "Well...Me and Violet were most likely going to the li-..."

His words get a little cut off as the light purple mare takes her figure to the hallway from her room, around the young mare's body lays her own light purple satchel with an emblem of her cutie mark, but it definitely looks lighter than Sparky's bag. Her mane holds her normal tomboyish lay and her tail is held at the base by a bright blue bow that matches her slightly sparkling blue eyes that almost burn with the goal she's striving to complete today.

Violet's smile that crossed her face from the sight of her friend fades a little as she notices the crystal mare turning her head to hers. Over the last few weeks the crystal mare has become a rival, both magically and academically...And it's started to take it's toll a little on Violet, by no means does the light purple mare hate her, and it's kind of a good thing Violet has found somepony to continuously drive her. But Starlight and Violet both want the same thing, something that only one of them will be able to have...Top of the class, and lately the crystal mare has taken the lead. Not because her spells or work are much better but mainly it's because of her ability to finish the work first, something Violet can't do if she wants to continue practicing her dream spell just about every night.


However the light purple mare holds her friendly smile as she nears the two ponies.

"Good day Violet." A warm smile comes to Starlight's face as she takes a little sigh, "I wish you luck today."

Violet nods to the comment as the mare continues, "...I'm actually a little nervous right now, I didn't get a good sleep last night." Starlight shakes her head a little as her voice picks up, "And I think my lack of sleep messed with Sparky's breakfast time..."

Sparky blinks to her words as Starlight is quick to speak up, "But I  think that lizard is just feeling a little homesick."

The three ponies start their trot as Sparky continues the small talk conversation, "You guys get a break in a few days don't you?"

"Oh yes, we get a break soon..." Starlight sighs as she swings her head around the castle's hallway, "I have enjoyed Canterlot, but I am missing the Crystal city."

Sparky nods to the words as he speaks up, "What's it like?" A faint laugh comes from the stallion as he straightens his posture, "Ponyville is all dirt and grass, I can't even imagine a city of crystals."

Starlight holds her smile as she turns her gaze from her path to the young stallion, "It's wonderful...You should see it sometime."

Violet's ear flicks to her tone as she lowers a little with a sigh as she just listens to the two ponies to either side of her continuing there so easily held conversation.

"Well...I have kinda wondered about it." Faint chuckle comes from Sparky as he lowers his head, "You always make it sound so nice there."

The two ponies that have slightly squished the light purple mare between them finally break away as there trots bring them to the main entrance of the castle.

Starlight pauses her trot for a moment as she just stares to the double doors, but her voice comes up a little as her grey crystal coat takes on a reddish pink tint, "It's exciting isn't it? That today has come so fast, there's only one more test before we're done"

Her words bring a nod to Violet's head as she and the dull orange pegasus trot out of the two doors with the crystal mare following close behind.

The midday sun has taken it's high and now sits in the sky behind the castle's towers, leaving a fall chilled shadow over the courtyard were the young unicorns have gathered. Over the last few weeks a few ponies have left the school, due to the slightly strenuous studies but the group of ponies still make a decent size.

With the thought in mind Violet's posture turns a little more proper as the tomboyish uncombed maned mare starts to walk between the two tall princesses that stand on the last stair above the courtyard. She's made it this far, and she intends to show it was well earned with her spell today...Even if she is bound to the same kind of spell she did when she had her first test.

Neither of them directly give a smile to Violet as she and the two ponies next to her begin to move towards the rest of the class, but their eyes hold is felt to Violet's mind as she takes her stance towards the edge of the group. Starlight heads to the other side without another word as everypony holds there gaze to the two tall mares.

"Hello again everypony..." Celestia's voice comes up as every pony returns the welcome.

The white mare's calmed tone holds as her magenta pink eyes run their course down the makeshift row of young unicorns, "Today marks your halfway mark for your first year, and the day you will be able to show your new understanding of your individual magical potentials." She pauses for a moment as she tilts her head a little, "Now lets get to it, is there anypony who wishes to start?"

Celestia's words end quick to Violet's ears as her horn sparks up in blue glow that zaps her satchel from her body and to the stallion next to her. Sparky halfheartedly expected the actions as he balances the new weight to his back as Violet's figure poofs to the front of the group with the fading blue sparkle of her magic.

"You may proceed when you are ready."

As the claimed words end Violet straightened her posture as she tilts her head a little higher and briefly looks over the sky above her. The cold weather has made the sky above Canterlot a bit more cloudy, and right now a large abstract strip of dark whitish puff runs over head; it's sight brings a confident spark to the young mare's horn as she starts her spell up. Her horn's fluorescent blue glow holds as the sound of her building magic runs around the courtyard.

Violet's never had a problem with this spell and the last few weeks have only strengthened her ability to do it. Magic is thoughts and emotions, and right now her mind's goal is clear and her confidence is strong.

Without another moment's hesitation Violet's now bluish green horn fires a bolt of cracking magic to the clouds above her.

The puffy and white strips instantly react to the expert like spell as the cloud starts to flex and pulse outwards from the bolt's impact, almost like a rock that's just been tossed into calm and still water.

Violet holds her head high and her eyes pinned to the two tall mares in front of her, as the cloud above her sends out an almost low thundering sound as if it were going to rain. The white cloud has now turned an organically moving grayish puff as a few dancing snowflakes start to fall down from it, but unlike her first test the chill of the frozen water starts to burrow itself into everypony; leaving them a little more sensitive to the cold chill in the fall air.

A happy giggle comes from Celestia as she bows her head a little, "Thank you Violet...I see you're two weeks have served you well."

Celestia's words bring a pride filled feel to Violet's mind, but it's Luna's true to life smile that brings Violet's head to nod thankfully as she turns back to the smiling pegasus that now has a few bright white snowflakes stuck to his mane like the rest of the slightly shivering ponies around him.

As Violet brings herself back to his side she floats her satchel around her as Celestia's voice comes back up, "Who's next?"

The light purple mare doesn't even second guess her thoughts as she immediately turns her gaze to the crystal mare that starts to step a little unsure towards the front of the group...Violet has her own respect for the crystal mare and her magic, but that doesn't change her smile as the light purple mare just takes in the fact that her dark cloud now blocks the mare's sun from sight.

Starlight turns her gaze to the cloud cover as she squints her eyes to the still falling snow, as she begins to question her ability to even attempt her spell. Her stare turns into half a minute as she sighs and closes her eyes while her horn sparks up in a hard gold glow. The mare's hooves dig hard to the ground that now has been littered from Violet's spell as Starlight tries to find a stable posture to push herself further into her magic.

The grayish mare's coat has come back, but only for a moment as her crystal body starts to glow a little brighter  now with a goldish tint to it.

Starlight's magical building brings an almost screaming chime around the courtyard as her eyes clenched shut to her pulsing horn.

No bolt of magic shoots through Violet's cloud though as the cooled feeling of her snow starts to turn into a damp wetness as the cloud above the courtyard begins to dissipate.

Violet's jaw like the ponies around her all drop as they notice the sun's light starting to shine through a few cracks into the evaporating cloud.

But Starlight's spell ends as the crystal mare falls to her front hooves in a painted heap, her once neatly combed mane now has turned to a ruffled frizz from the magic that was pulsing to her horn.

Celestia's voice immediately comes up as she takes a hoof forward from her steps, "Are you ok?"

Starlight quickly brings herself up as she nods, "Y-...yes...I am fine."

There's a pause for a moment as everypony just holds her ears to Celestia's silence, but it's broken as the tall white mare speaks up, "That was a very excellent attempt at the spell Starlight, you picked something that hasn't been done by a normal ponie for over a thousand years...You should feel proud knowing you improved on it."

The crystal mare nods her head as she continues to catch her breath.

Celestia's eyes shift between Violet and Starlight as her voice directs to the group, "Once you have completed your spell you may go and enjoy the rest of your day."

Starlight slowly brings her trot up towards the group again as another pony steps forward. Violet holds her gaze to the steadying mare for a moment before she turns to the stallion next to her and taps him on the chest to follow.

Not wanting to disturb the new pony at the front they drift towards the back of the group as Violet leads there trot to the crystal mare. Starlight's eyes turn to the two ponies as Violet's right hoof starts up with a friendly smile.

Starlight's voice holds a low whisper as she speaks up, half because of her slight pant and the other out of respect of the testing pony, "Thank you Violet...But I don't believe completing a spell only halfway is a big accomplishment."

"Are you kidding?" Sparky's voice holds his excitement down as best he can as he speaks up through his smile, "I'm pretty sure just doing that spell is an accomplishment."

Starlight nods her head as she speaks up, "Well I thank you...But I feel as though my last test will be something I can consider an accomplishment, I want to make sure Celestia and Luna see my improvements."

Violet is a little taken back at the words as she looks over the mare, trying to figure out if the mare has something already planned...And if so how good of a spell could it really be? The more Violet holds her smile the more her mind starts to doubt her own ability, other than the dream spell and the few frost and weather spells she knows her magic is nothing different than any other ponies.

As Violet holds her expression, Sparky speaks up with a new found astonishment as he nods. But before he can speak up Violet brings her hooves up as she says a quick goodbye to the crystal mare. Starlight acknowledges her goodbye as the light purple mare starts to tug the dull orange pegasus behind her with a new goal in mind.


End of chapter 13