//------------------------------// // Covert // Story: To Be Magical // by Lux //------------------------------// Chapter 10 – Covert Sweetie Belle trotted down the road, making a necessary detour before heading home. The hulking form of the Golden Oaks Library appeared as she rounded the corner, her one target in sights. There was something she needed from within the tree library, something forbidden to her but now was so important the white filly was willing to break all promises and rules to get. The closer she reached the place the more her worry rose inside her that she would be found out. It would be bad enough for Rarity or the other Elements of Harmony to be there in or around the library asking her questions. Meeting Princcess Twilight there, however, would be the death knell to her plans, destroying it the instant that the two ponies made contact. There was no way that Twilight would approve what she was doing as it went against the entire purpose of her lessons with the filly. The irony that at first Sweetie wanted the attention and guidance from the Alicorn and now didn’t want to see Twilight in her own house was not lost on the filly as she carefully opened the door. The library was quiet, not a pony in sight. She carefully looked up the stairs to the second floor to see if Twilight was in her study area, but to her relief the princess was nowhere to be seen. The filly knew that it could be anytime that Twilight would return, so she had to work quickly. “Now where is that book,” Sweetie Belle said softly as she scanned the towering shelves, looking not for just any tome but one in particular. Finally her eyes settled on an old familiar looking book that she knew to be the Book of Advanced Spells. Carefully the filly worked the book from its home with her magic, pulling it ever closer to the edge. “Come on, come on,” she said as victory was so close yet so far. Suddenly the book tipped over and fell from its high perch. Sweetie squeaked and jumped out of the way before it hit the ground where she once stood with a thud. “Phew! That was a close one. “ “Who’s there?” a familiar voice called out, “Twilight is that you?” Sweetie quickly levitated the book and put it into her saddle bag, just in time for Spike to appear from the kitchen. The filly could only hope that the baby dragon didn’t see what she was doing. “Oh hi Sweetie Belle,” the dragon said nervously, “Um… how are you doing?” “Great Spike,” Sweetie Belle said as she breathed a sigh of relief that her secret was safe, “How are you?” “Oh I’m fine. You’re probably looking for Twilight, right?” “Um… yeah,” Sweetie said. “Well, she’s out with her friends actually. Is there anything I can help you with? I know this library like the back of my hand!” “Oh, no, I just came over to say that I’m really doing well with my magic and to thank her that’s all.” “Congratulations then! You have a great teacher with Twilight. She’s like the best at magic. I’ll definitely pass the message along that you were here.” “Yeah I know,” Sweetie said as the guilt started to boil over, “but thanks for that.” “Oh and Sweetie?” “Yes Spike?” “Can you tell Rarity that I said hello, not if you’re busy of course but whenever you see her again.” “Um… sure,” Sweetie said, “Anyway I have to get home.” “Oh, ok. Bye Sweetie.” “Bye Spike,” the filly replied as she trotted out the door, “What’s with that dragon and my sister? It’s like he’s … nah, that’s just silly!” The plan had worked as Sweetie Belle returned home with her prized Book of Advanced Spells. It was a hollow victory though as the white unicorn realized that she was going against Twilight’s promise to not practice things that the Princess didn’t authorize. She was basically slapping away a helping hoof, one who was trying to help her improve her magic. Yet Sweetie’s desire to never again be seen as a target to be bullied and as somepony important filled her mind, pushing away all other thoughts and doubts into the background. “I have to do this. I’m not going to be known as some loser pony anymore!” She opened the book and flipped through the pages, looking for a good spell to use. With each page she turned and each spell she read she became more and more frustrated as they were way beyond her ability. What she needed was a spell to increase her ability, allowing her to perform any other spell that she saw fit. Finally her eyes settled on a certain spell as a smile went across her face. “Power Augmentation Spell,” she read, “That’s exactly what I need! Wait until the foals in school see what I can do with this!” That night she dreamed of performing epic spell feats in the castle in Canterlot. All the Princesses were there as well as her sister, parents and classmates. All were pleased with her abilities, but none was most excited than her teacher Twilight who beamed at the progress the filly made. This was what Sweetie Belle wanted, to be accepted and be seen as a great pony. Tomorrow would be the day that she would prove herself to Twilight, Cheerilee, and anypony else.