//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 - Alone 
// Story: Sweetie Belle and the Journey to the Kingdom of the Frogs 
// by Thunderbug80 
//------------------------------//

	"Now show me," Twilight Sparkle said.

Sweetie Belle glanced at the spell book one more time, then allowed it to float down to the desk before extinguishing the glowing green aura of her magic from it. She looked at Twilight, who smiled and nodded, signaling that it was okay for her to begin. She took a deep breath, exhaled, then cast her eyes downward.

An almost electric surge of anticipation flowed down her spine and out through her body. What she was about to attempt was something only the most advanced students of magic could ever hope to accomplish, and even then there was no surviving evidence that any of them had ever been successful. But the idea of failing was of no concern. What was frightening—thrilling, exhilarating—was the absolute knowledge that she would succeed. Of that, there was no doubt. She hesitated only a moment longer, then raised her eyes and concentrated.

The effect was immediate.

The space in the middle of Twilight's study filled up with a large, spherical, three-dimensional image in full color. Both Sweetie and Twilight had known what to expect, but the look on Twilight's face as she stared open-mouthed at the slowly rotating image suggested that perhaps she still hadn't believed that it would actually happen. Her eyes traced every surface of the sphere, unblinking, as her mouth slowly formed a smile.

"This... this is–" Twilight began, though her words failed her. She closed her mouth and continued to stare, her eyes glistening.

"Our world," Sweetie said quietly. "Once known as Sanctuary, according to the spell's creator."

"It's... beautiful."

Twilight circled the image, stopping on occasion to take a closer look at various regions. When she thought Twilight was satisfied, Sweetie concentrated and zoomed in on a particular area of the image, expanding it outward until it was no longer a sphere, but a three dimensional image of a room. Within that room...

"Is that—" Twilight began. She waved a hoof at the image, then let out a delighted gasp. "It is!" She waved again, watching herself within the image waving as well. She then turned to Sweetie as her image did the same.

"This... is... amazing! A spell that can show us what is happening anywhere in the world in real time? Can you imagine the possibilities?"

Sweetie smiled. Of course the spell would work; she knew it would from the moment she had read the spell book. It still felt good to be able to impress somepony as magically talented as Twilight Sparkle, though. Maybe her new abilities wouldn't be so bad, after all.

"Can you show us something else?" Twilight asked.

"What do you want to see?"

"Everything!"

Sweetie happily obliged. They zoomed in on Applejack bucking apple trees in her orchard. They watched Rainbow Dash napping in one of her favorite clouds. It was addictive, and they eagerly watched as Sweetie jumped from pony to pony, laughing at some of the silly antics they saw, and smiling at the rest. Eventually Sweetie's eyes lit up.

"I know! Let's see what Diamond Tiara is up to."

It had been a few weeks since she had finally become friends with the filly who had once been one of her biggest tormentors in school. Since then she had welcomed the opportunity to include Diamond in on anything she and her other friends got up to. She concentrated, and the image focused upon a little filly lying on a bed. Standing beside the bed, an angry scowl on her face, was Diamond Tiara's mother, Spoiled Rich. Sweetie and Twilight watched as Spoiled soundlessly shouted at her daughter, whose eyes began to glisten with tears.

Sweetie took an involuntary step back, and the image disappeared, the spell broken. She felt her cheeks redden, her heartbeat increase. She looked at Twilight.

"I don't like this spell anymore..."

Twilight's smiled had disappeared. "No. No, I don't think I like it much anymore, either." She shook her head slowly. "I'm sorry, Sweetie. I should have been more cautious. A spell like this could be very dangerous if misused."

Sweetie looked up. "You mean like we just did?"

Twilight blushed, and they both went silent. After a few moments of awkwardness, Sweetie spoke.

"I need to go see Diamond." She turned to leave. Twilight teleported in front of her, blocking the way.

"No, Sweetie Belle! Your friend can't know that we were watching her. Nopony can." Sweetie made to walk around her, but Twilight moved again. "Now that we've seen what it's capable of, we both know that this spell is dangerous! We shouldn't have used it. Nopony should. What I need to do is take you to see Princess Celestia. She may understand what has happened to you."

"No."

Twilight blinked. "I'm sorry?"

Sweetie frowned. "No. I don't want to go see the princess. Discord was right, I need to figure this out on my own."

Twilight opened her mouth, closed it. She tried again. "Sweetie, you hold the key to unlocking secrets of magic that have been locked away for centuries. Thousands of years, even! With your help we could discover spells that would help our civilization advance beyond our wildest dreams! Think about it. You were able to cast that spell flawlessly after studying it for only a few minutes!" She began to pace back and forth. "I don't know how or why it came to be, but somehow you possess a greater understanding of magic than those who have dedicated their entire lives to the craft. Does this mean that you not only understand every spoken language, but the language of magic as well? Or do you understand the draconic language so well that you fully comprehended what the spell's creator intended based on what he had written? There are so many questions we need answered, and if you just—"

"Twilight!" Sweetie shouted.

Twilight stopped in mid-sentence and stared, wide-eyed, at Sweetie. Her hoof was still raised, mid-step.

"I don't want to see the princess. I don't want to unlock the mysteries of magic." Sweetie sighed and stared at the floor. "I just... want to be left alone. I have to get away from here."

"Sweetie, you can't mean—"

Sweetie looked up and stared intently at Twilight.

"I mean it. I need to be by myself for a while." Twilight opened her mouth, but Sweetie continued. "If I stay here, it's going to cause problems. I hear too many voices all the time. It's hard to sort them all out, and ponies are already giving me weird looks. I think Discord was right. I shouldn't have come to you for help."

Twilight winced. "Sweetie, I'm not going to force you to read anything you don't want to. I wouldn't be a very good friend if I did."

"That's not it, Twilight." Sweetie said. "I'll be tempted to read them all, and we both know what a bad idea that would be." She looked around, feeling helpless. "I don't want to go to Canterlot, and I can't stay here."

Twilight studied Sweetie's face for some time before she finally nodded. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think you're right. It might be best if you take a short break. A day or two away from town should be enough time to clear your head a bit, and then maybe we can decide on how to proceed from there."

Sweetie smiled. Finally somepony understood! She would miss her friends, but it would only be for a few days. She just needed some time away from everything so she could focus. She frowned when Twilight trotted over to a bookcase and came back bearing a spell book, but Twilight patted her head reassuringly.

"Don't worry, this is a beginner's spell book. There's nothing in here that you're likely to disapprove of, and I think if you're going to be heading off by yourself you should be prepared, just in case." Sweetie thanked her and she continued. "I can handle explanations as to why you won't be home or at school for the next few days. As far as your parents and everypony else is concerned, you're taking part in some special magical training for a few days. Which is, of course, exactly what you are doing. They just won't be told of the specifics." Twilight let out a nervous chuckle.

Sweetie spent a bit more time with Twilight sorting out the details of her trip. She was to stay out of the Everfree forest, and not stray too far from Ponyville. Twilight explained that the fact that Sweetie had finally earned her cutie mark was proof that she was growing up and could be trusted to do some things on her own, but it was still important to have a plan just in case something went wrong. She had food and supplies packed away in her saddlebags, including Twilight's spell book. All there was left to do was say goodbye to her friends. She waved goodbye to Twilight and headed towards Sweet Apple Acres.