//------------------------------// // Overload // Story: To Be Magical // by Lux //------------------------------// Chapter 11 – Overload The next day Sweetie Belle went to school with the Book of Advanced Spells in her saddlebags. The filly was nervous to attempt such an advanced spell as the Power Augmentation Spell, partly because she had no idea what the spell would do to her. Sure the unicorn was smart enough to know that Augmentation meant to increase, her friends and fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders would attest that Sweetie Belle was a walking dictionary. But the question that lingered in her mind as she walked to school was how much exactly her power would increase. Still, having more magic was good in her mind, as that was her initial goal: to learn more about magic. Why, this spell might work so well that Sweetie could skip the basic lessons from Twilight and go straight to the more advanced things! Twilight, that name that stuck in her head. In reality Sweetie wasn’t as scared much about what the spell would do to her as how the lavender Alicorn would react. Sweetie had gone against her teacher’s instructions and took a forbidden book without asking first. She wondered what the consequences were for disobeying a Princess. “What if I get banished, or locked in a dungeon, or banished and locked in a dungeon?” She began to fret as her mind swirled with possible punishments. Finally a silver lining appeared in her otherwise darkened thoughts. “Ok, all I have to do is take the book back to the library after school. Then Twilight won’t know the book is missing. Everything will be fine then.” “Won’t know what is missing?” a familiar voice called. Sweetie Belle turned to see Twilight Sparkle walking up to the filly! What if she knew that the spell book was missing? What if she came to punish her? No, she couldn’t show her guilt, not when she was so close to her goal. “Oh, Twilight,” Sweetie Belle said trying to remain calm when inside she was afraid, “How are you doing?” “Great Sweetie. How are you?” “Oh, I’m fine, just going to school.” “Great. I heard that you went to the library to see me yesterday to tell me about your progress with your magic. I was actually out with my friends, but I’m glad to hear that you’re doing well with your practicing.” “Thanks,” Sweetie said hoping the issue with what Twilight heard her say was over. “So you said something about a book that is missing from the library?” “Oh,” Sweetie said trying to create a lie on the spot, “It was a Daring Do book that I borrowed. I think it’s a little overdue and I hope that you wouldn’t worry that it was missing.” “You don’t have to worry about that,” Twilight said with a reassuring smile, “In fact if you have it with you now I’d be happy to take it with me.” “No,” Sweetie said abruptly that took Twilight off her guard a little, “I mean, I have it at home.” “I see,” Twilight said confused at the sudden outburst, “Well, you best be getting to school then.” “Ok, bye Twilight.” “Bye Sweetie Belle,” Twilight said as the filly galloped away to school, leaving the Alicorn to wonder what was going on. As the white filly approached school, she began to worry more, not because of her recent interaction with Twilight and the fact that she flat out lied to her. The new worry was that she wouldn’t be able to perform the spell if the class asked for it. She remembered what Diamond Tiara said about popularity how ponies will expect her to do something more amazing than what she did for show and tell. What if she failed? She would be the laughing stock at school, back to being the loser blank flank that couldn’t perform magic. She wasn’t going back to that, as that was the old Sweetie Belle. She had to show her new side as there was no going back. The school day went without much fanfare with its usual lessons and projects. Still the white unicorn could see that the ponies were looking for her to do something, anything magical. Even her friends were ready to cheer her on! Diamond Tiara merely had a devilish grin, one which Sweetie knew was not because the stuck up filly wanted her to succeed but to fail, opening her up to being bullied yet again. Well Sweetie was determined to show her and anypony else that dared to make fun of her again! At recess a crowd gathered, waiting for the unicorn to perform her latest spell. There was no escaping the class now. Sweetie had to act. “So, what spell are you going to show?” a colt asked. “Yeah, have you learned something new?” a filly replied in the crowd. “Well Sweetie,” Diamond Tiara chuckled, “Looks like you have quite a crowd here. Wouldn’t want to disappoint your audience now, would you?” “Don’t listen to her,” Apple Bloom said. “Yeah, show her what you can do,” Scootaloo said defiantly. “OK, here it goes,” Sweetie said as she pulled out the Book of Advanced Spells from her saddlebag and levitating it in front of her opened it to the right page. She then began to concentrate with all her might pouring her intent, passion, and energy into this one spell. Suddenly a bright green aura appeared around her for a few seconds, making the filly’s body tingle. Then in a flash the aura was gone, leaving Swetie Belle stunned. “That was the new spell you were going to show?” Diamond said her words dripping with venom, “Just some stupid light show? Wow Sweetie, you really proved today that you are the worst unicorn in all of Equestria!” “How did it not work?” Sweetie said to the point of tears, knowing that she was the center of attention but not in the way she wanted to be, “I did everything this book said! I…” Her speech was suddenly cut off when suddenly she felt a surge of energy flow through her body. The crow around her gasped as the filly began to float into the air, stopping just above the crowd. Before Sweetie could react, her eyes turned completely green as a shield of green energy enveloped the unicorn. Soon green bolts of energy crackled from the sphere, threatening to strike anything or anypony. Diamond Tiara was the first to try and ruin when a green bolt struck the filly, transforming her into a dog in a poof of smoke! Upon seeing this, the other ponies ran away, desperately trying to get away from the out of control filly. The two Crusaders hid behind a tree hoping to be safe. A bolt of energy hit the tree, turning it into a bale of hay, causing Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to run for a new cover. Another bolt struck the swing set, turning it into a giant spider! All the while Sweetie Belle floated in the air unaware of what was happening and unable to control it. Meanwhile… “So you say that Sweetie Belle is doing well with her magic?” Rarity said to her friend Twilight. “That’s what she said. She just needed to believe in herself that’s all. I had to just give her a little guidance and encouragement.” “Well I’m glad that things are working out for my sister.” “Yeah, so am I,” Twilight said as if her mind was on something else. “Twilight, is there something wrong? You seem like something is on your mind.” “It’s just that Sweetie Belle seemed… off.” “Off? Like she is ill?” “No… just like she’s hiding something from me.” “Whatever could she be hiding from you?” It didn’t take long to answer that question as the two mares heard screams coming from the school. The two immediately made their way to the area where they saw Sweetie Belle suspended in a ball of energy, firing green energy beams randomly. “Oh my gosh, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity exclaimed, “What’s happening to her?” Twilight then spotted the Book of Advanced Spells lying on the ground below the floating filly and quickly used her magic to diagnose the magic that the filly cast. “She cast an Augmentation Spell on her. It’s used to temporarily increase the power of a unicorn’s magic.” “How long does it last?” “Several hours,” Twilight replied, thinking about what to do next. “Oh dear!” Rarity said, “We can’t have her like that for several hours. That would be the worst possible thing!” “Rarity, I’m going to try my Fail Safe Spell. That should nullify that Augmentation spell.” “Oh do be careful Twilight. I don’t know what I’d do if poor Sweetie was hurt.” “Don’t worry she’ll be fine,” Twilight said as she concentrated on the spell. A purple ball of energy formed around the Alicorn and then suddenly expanded, washing over the area like a wave. Everything that was transformed by Sweetie’s magic was restored, including Diamond Tiara who stood wondering what happened. Twilight’s magic then collided with the green bubble around Sweetie Belle, shattering like it was made of glass. The filly’s eyes returned to normal as she felt like she was falling, unable to do anything. Just when Sweetie felt like this was the end for her, she felt her body slow then stop inches above the ground. The last thing she remembered was seeing Rarity with her horn glowing, obviously using her telekinesis to catch the filly in time. Then everything faded into blackness…