//------------------------------// // L73 // Story: A little loopy. // by FaelaArts //------------------------------// ‘Come on Sweetie, you can do this.’ Biting her lip, she concentrated, the letter in her magic as she concentrated the location. According to Twilight, long-distance mail required knowing a specific magical signature or location. While she couldn’t be a hundred percent sure, Sweetie hoped she had enough concentration to send this to Rarity. With a flash, her letter sent, and a beaming smile emerged on her face. Grinning, she packed up the items, and turned toward her bag. Now for the real test. Gritting her teeth, she concentrated, her horn gaining a second aura as she weaved the spell into the bag. Slowly, but surely, the spell weaved through the fibres, and she felt the spell complete. “I did it!” Giving a giddy squeal, she stuck her head right in the bag. Now she no longer needed Twilight or the Princesses to cast the spell to make her bag bigger. Plus, with her current adult form, she could carry nearly double the amount. Meaning; more books! Her mouth watered, what knowledge would she unlock from the Royal Canterlot Library? Looking toward the windows, her ear flickered as bits shook around her bag. Time ticked by slowly, but eventually she grinned. There went the chariot to Ponyville carrying Celestia. That left only one Princess in Canterlot. Smiling, Sweetie concentrated, teleporting to the garden that led to the archives. “Halt, you’re not allowed to teleport this close to the Canterlot Arc-” Cut off by Sweetie’s knockout spell, she quickly stole his keys, and pushed the guard into a bush. Turning, she trotted calmly into the archives like she belonged there. She did, after all. Walking around, she found the section she had been looking for, and smiled. Just past the Starswirl the Bearded wing was a section dedicated to the old wars between Unicorn races. It was kept strictly locked for reasons relating to the fact it housed spells that only Alicorn-level magic could even conceive, let alone cast. As Sweetie unlocked the door, and entered, she glanced to a mural depicting a circle of unicorns raining fire down upon their enemies. Turning away from it, she approached the single item in the section. ‘Only Twilight and those directly under Celestia are allowed to even see the spells, let alone try to cast them.’ Giddy from excitement, she placed a hoof carefully on the book, and opened it. Cautious magic opening the weathered pages carefully, Sweetie could see the amount of painstaking work. The entire book had four spells, and it was thicker than a dictionary! ‘What’s more, it requires a link to this ‘aetheric plane’. Apparently the better their connection to it, the stronger the magic? Rrrg, this magic theory is gobbldeygook!’ Stuffing the book into her saddlebag, she sighed, ears flopping down. If only she had Twilight’s talent for magic. Exiting the ward, she headed for Starswirl's’ next. Entering, Sweetie looked around the books, skimming them for anything useful. Other than a few notes on time spells, there wasn’t much else that she didn’t already know. Spells to help out with everyday, tactics on irrigation, something about an anthropomorphic spell. Starswirl was absolutely boring! “Excuse me, what the hell do you think you are doing to our priceless collection of books? You tripped over five thousand alarms.” That voice belonged to the Princess of the Night, and Sweetie turned, regarding her. There was a lot of power inside Luna, powered by her connection to the night. While she was strong, Sweetie knew her limits, and she wasn’t sure she’d win a fight with Luna. At least, not until she could lift the same planetary body. “I’m reading it,” she answered simply. For now, she need to buy time and come up with a plan. Luna was still wary of her, and she was an adult. So her cute looks wouldn’t work. Luna’s horn began to glow, and Sweetie carefully put the book back, appearing to not consider Luna a threat. Looking around the books, Sweetie got a spark of inspiration. Besides, what did she have to lose? After all, she had been told she reminded Discord of him. And it would be so funny if it worked. “I’m disappointed Luna, I thought you at least would recognise me irregardless of my beardless status.” From what Sweetie had read, Starswirl was one who spoke slightly above people, but always meant well. It was likely his way of speaking was because of the era he grew up in. Therefore, it she acted similarly, it might just work. “You are joking, right?” Apparently, Luna was not convinced. Sweetie gave a warm smile that did not reach her eyes, and chuckled, shaking her head as if she had been expecting it. “I guess my death would make this seem a little far fetched, but I assure you, I am the genuine article.” Looking toward the shelves, she tried to pull off a pleased look. Luna’s silence was good, that meant she was considering her words. Sweetie was having trouble keeping herself from cracking into a fit of giggles. “Prove it, tell me something only you would know.” Smiling, Luna was convinced this would prove it once and for all. Raising an eyebrow, Sweetie sighed and began to slowly walk past Luna. As eyes followed her, it took all Sweetie’s will to not break character. “Well, I will be on my way then.” Heart beating rapidly, Sweetie wondered if she was actually going to get away with this. There was no way Luna would just let her walk away, right? “Wait,” came the voice, and Sweetie paused. Looking back, she saw the horn still pointed toward her, suspicion mixed with confusion. ‘This isn’t working, time to bail.’ Looks like Discord didn’t know Starswirl like Luna did, and that was working against Sweetie. Breathing in, she prepared her escape plan. Luna was speaking, demanding proof, nearly shouting it. Anger? They hadn’t seemed angry to Sweetie when they’d been discussing it. Obviously this had been a bad idea. “Alright, your proof is there.” Pointing behind Luna, Sweetie was rewarded when the Princess glanced back. Horn glowing, Sweetie concentrated, pulling upon her magic quicker than she normally did. Luna looked back, and dove to intercept. Sweetie cast the spell, risking backlash, and exploded through the archive wall, into the garden. Wincing, Sweetie rose to one arm, looking around her as her horn burned. Standing up, she shook herself off. Sticking around was not a good idea. Concentrating, she winced through the pain, preparing to teleport a second time. However, an explosion of dust knocked her up into the air, halting the spell. “INTRUDER!” Luna’s voice cracked with raw power and undiluted rage. Giving a shaky laugh, Sweetie quickly forgot her pain. Concentrating, she covered herself in magic just as the first spell shattered her barrier. Gritting her teeth, Sweetie flipped her gravity, rocketing into the sky as she concentrated, reforming the barrier. Looking around, Sweetie could see Guards coming out of the city like animals out of Fluttershy’s cottage. This was really bad, she needed to get out of here. There was no way she’d take on an entire army. Breathing in, Sweetie ended her spell, dodging a bolt of dark lightning aimed at her. Biting her lip, she forced herself to ignore the fact Luna had just tried to kill her. Wings forming on her back, Sweetie curved upward, and corkscrewed out of the way of another arc of magic. Unicorns were beginning to cast spells to limit her magic, she could taste them in the air as they came toward her. It felt sickening, she grunted, using a series of rapid teleports to dodge them while distancing herself from Luna. Diving toward Canterlot Castle, she smashed through a window and out the other side, diving down as she tried once more to teleport long range. Luna exploded above her, a ball of darkness coming straight for Sweetie. Knowing she wouldn’t make it, Sweetie teleported a short distance once more, diving down to the streets in the hopes Luna would avoid hurting civilians. Glancing back, she smiled, she was right! Sweetie looked where she was going, seeing the road block. Teleporting through it, Sweetie finally found the precious time to lock onto her hotel room. Holding the spell on her horn, she ensured she wasn’t going to take anypony with her, and teleported. Closing her curtains, Sweetie gasped on the floor, door locked, and used the last bit of her magic to change her mane color and coat color. Magic spent, her wings vanished too. ’I look like Pinkie Pie, but it’ll do. I need to get out of here and on a train though.’ Catching her breath, Sweetie stood up, and looked to her Mark. Concentrating, she tried to will it to the different shape. To her pleasant surprise, it transformed like she wanted, only slightly however. With that done, it was time to go. ‘Note to self; just because the Princesses don’t seem angry does not mean they aren’t. Also, Luna shoots black lightning.’ Rubbing her horn, Sweetie could feel the exertion starting to take over. In hindsight, she should have expected a fight. “My bad,” she chuckled, shaking her head before wincing. “Ow. Least I got the book.”