//------------------------------// // Day 10, Part 2 // Story: Starswirl and the Purple Terror // by ValdimarGreen //------------------------------// Day 10, Part 2         Outside, clinging to the tower just below the window, Clover the Clever watched the two ponies wrestle. In her heart, Clover was cheering loudly for Uncle Swirly, it was about time the purple one was put in her place. Clover’s face spread in a vicious grin as Uncle Swirly ended up on top, pinning the purple pony beneath him. A moment passed, Clover furrowed her brow, why wasn’t he punching her in the face?         Clover’s eyes went wide with a sudden horrible thought; What if they weren’t actually fighting? But rather, playing a game? Fury filled the little filly. It would be just like the purple one. Always trying to make Uncle Swirly pay attention to her. Clover snarled, just who does this hussy think she is? Trying to be all cuddly with HER Uncle.         Deciding she needed to get a better view, she climbed up next to the window and leaned her head into it. What she saw almost made her lose her grip on the stones, which would have resulted in her plummeting all the way down to the ground, a distance of at least fifty solar.         The purple one HAD WINGS! Clover couldn't believe it. The strumpet had somehow managed to turn herself into an alicorn. That wasn’t supposed to be possible, Celestia had said so herself! She wouldn't lie, not to her most secret and special agent, right? Clover growled deep in her throat. She and Celestia would have words later. For now, Clover really wanted to know how the purple one had done it. For if somepony deserved to be an alicorn, it was Clover the Clever. Inside the tower, Uncle Swirly held up a blood filled syringe. “I can’t wait to study it in detail!” he said eagerly. “To think, alicorn magic finally within my reach.” The purple one seemed confused at this, “What do you mean ‘finally’? Couldn't you just get some from Princess Celestia or Princess Luna?” “They always refused, and kept going on about how it was ‘forbidden’ and more ‘dangerous’ than I could possibly know,” the older unicorn said with a huff. “Complete jibber jabber if you ask me. They are most likely just afraid of the needle, like you.” Clover’s golden eyes locked on the small syringe. The secret was in there, she had heard enough to be certain of that. Too bad she probably wouldn't be able to get her hooves on it, Uncle Swirly had grown quite adept at protecting his more valuable possessions from her. No, she would most likely have to get her own sample. Clover’s eyes glittered as they slid over to the alicorn. Suddenly she was enveloped by a blue glow and forcibly janked from the wall. Clover let out a squeal and paddled desperately in the air. Realizing she was simply hovering over the windowsill, she stopped. “Just what kind of demon are you?” Uncle Swirly asked before peering past her, down at the ground. “You actually managed to climb all the way up here? No wonder you have been able to get into my tower.”         Clover flung her forehooves wide and gave him her very best smile, “Congratulations! You caught me! You win one free hug!”         He looked at her deadpan, “Give me one good reason why I shouldn't toss you out the window right now.”         She hesitated, before giving a sheepish smile, “Because you love me?”         Clover felt herself accelerated hard backwards, and then she was flying through the warm afternoon air, screaming her lungs out. ----- Twilight gaped at the window where Starswirl had just magically launched a small filly to her certain death. Starswirl, noticing her reaction, rolled his eyes. “She will be fine.” “She will?” Twilight asked, sounding doubtful. “Yes, she will. I once told her mother that if I caught Clover in my tower again, I would toss her out the nearest window. Guess what she did? She taught the little monster a spell for soft landings!”