Could Be a...

Chapter 10 – Lie Berry

The day has rolled on rather slow the young light purple mare, mainly because the tedious day of learning pretty much the same thing she did last year. But as the day's afternoon sun continues to bake the earlier morning's chill from Violet's coat the thoughts about school begin to drop out of the mare's mind.

Violet turns her head towards the large marble and stone looking building quickly approaching. The sign of the library sparks the mare's horn as it's light purple glow comes over the heavy satchel that sits around her body.

It only takes a few moments for the young mare to ascend the two small flight of stairs to the building as she opens the door to the warm and bright area.

The library has always brought a homey feel, although the main reason is from the potent and slightly stuffy odor emanating from all the bookshelves.

Violet's trot turns away from the center of the room as her eyes set to the older light yellow and pale lemon maned mare at the checkout desk. As the young mare gets closer to the desk the pony looks up as she adjust the large glasses that just barely rest to her snout, "Ah, hello again Violet Sparkle."

A slight laugh comes up from the mare as she tilts her head, "It's been two months already?"

The comment brings a friendly smile to Violet as she raise her hoof to one of the side pockets of her satchel.

The older mare patiently waits as she watches a folded piece of paper come to Violet's hoof, "A letter I presume."

Violet nods her head as she extends the folded paper towards the librarian.

The older mare gives a warm smile as she takes the letter from her, "I'll make sure the library sends it soon."

With another nod Violet turns her head back to the long row of bookshelves that extend throughout the building's length.

The young mare waste no time as she trots towards the first row in front of her. Truthfully, she doesn't even know what book she's looking for, but anything involving magic is a pretty good bet.

Violet continues to run her eyes between the two bookshelves as she trots along it's length. However the weight on her back that has already been whittling the mare's desire to start her report early has finally started to break the mare's spirit.

With a silent sigh Violet's horn sparks up as she pulls a random book from the shelves and looks it over, 'Magic for Derpys'. The young mare squints to the title as she shrugs it off and begins to trot from her hidden spot between the bookshelves.

As the bright open center of the library comes into view her eyes drift to the sitting area as she sets her sights on one of the open tables towards the back of the room.

The book Violet pulls just barely lofts behind her as she anxiously wraps her magic to the strap that wraps around her. The table could not have come any faster as the light purple mare quickly flops the bag to the table along with her flank to one of the more pulled out seats.

Violet closes her eyes as she rolls her neck, just enjoying the absent weight.

But, like most things the mare tries to silently enjoy another pony's voice starts to knock to her ears, "Well hello... Violet correct?"

The light purple mare opens one eye as she lazily just holds her head and mane to one side, however as she looks over the tan coated unicorn stallion hovering a stack of books next to him, she straightens her lacked head posture.

"I do hope I'm not imposing, just didn't really see any'were else to sit." The southern drawl holds over the stallion as he shoots a friendly and slightly sheepish smile.

Violet blinks to the comment as she looks around to the other now almost full tables, it's a little surprising this early... But there are only about ten tables that barely sit four. As the light purple mare turns her head back to the stallion she hesitates not knowing how to tell him he can sit down.

So instead Violet just shoots back a friendly smile as she shakes her head and holds her hoof to the chair across from her.

"Why thank you." The stallion's light gold hold over the stack of books comes to an end as they set to the table, "I suppose Starlight was right when she said to get here early." A slight chuckle comes from him as he pulls the white scarf from around his neck.

Violet just gives a little nod as she floats her one book up to her.

The sight of the smaller and slightly more foal like book brings a smile to the stallion's face as he turns his eyes to Violet, "Second year must be easy huh?"

His comment strikes Violet's ear just as she looks over the childish text of the book she randomly selected. However, instead of casually just smiling the comment off the young mare sparks her hooves up with a smart-ass comment.

The stallion blinks to the motions as Violet's smile slowly fades from her face. Too a blank stare Violet wiggles her hoof as she just again brings her book up more over her face.

A faint chuckle comes up from across the table as the southern accent rings out, "We'll I guess you're right, magic doesn't really change so why would you need a more grown up book."

The comment flicks Violet's ear as she slowly lowers her book and squints to the stallion across from her. However, no smile comes to the mare's face at the fact of the stallion understanding her hoofing. Instead Violet closes her book as she straightened her posture and hooves out another comment.

The stallion's friendly smile changes as he looks over the amulet around Violet's neck now glowing a fighting red. Another laugh comes up from the stallion as he shifts a little in his seat, "Well I guess I have not been entirely truthful with you..."

He clears his throat as he holds his smile, "So i'll try now... To your question, um no I do not know who your family is. Should I?"

Violet slowly blinks from her hard squint as she hooves out her name.

It takes a moment for the stallion to speak up, as he nods his head, "O-OH! Sparkle, like Twilight Sparkle? Celestia student right?"

Violet rolls her eyes to the excited stallion as she hooves out another comment.

However, the stallion doesn't answer as he just rubs his hoof to his neck, "L-like I said, I should be more truthful. I do not really know hoofing..." The stallion gives another light laugh as he continues, "I kinda just started learning it after King Sombra came back, I kinda thought the idea of magic being stronger from not being able to express emotions through words interesting... So I learned a few things, you know just simple words and letters. Sorry if I offend ya."

As the stallion's comment ends Violet slowly resettles in her chair as she just blinks to the stallion's words.

But before she can bring her hooves up again the stallion brings his voice up as he extends his hoof with a smile, "Want to start over?"

Violet cocks her head to the comment as she tries to understand what he means by start over.

Again though, the stallion speaks up as he sways his extended hoof, "My name is Asher Flax... What's your name? Or should I just call you angel? O-or better yet, the Judgment-Angle?"

The stallion's tone brings a low wheezing laugh to Violet as she looks over the stallion.

Asher holds his smile to the strange laugh though as he nods his eyes towards his extended hoof, "Is that a yes?"

Violet quickly shakes her head as she hooves out her name.

Asher lowers his hoof as he nods, "Fair enough, Violet it is." As his comment ends he brings up a more sheepish smile, "And seeing as how I'm still being truthful I have two more things I would like to say." Violet perks her ears up as she waits for the shifting stallion to continue, "...First off, that necklace is very nice, second... One of the reasons I came over here was for the opportunity of get'n help from an upper class student."

The comment rolls Violet's eyes, but she holds her smile as she nods her head and holds her hoof out for one of the books in the stack.

(Outside)

The late afternoon sun has started to drop below the skyline of Canterlot as the day begins to move to it's end. And now the winter chill has started to promptly take over, luckily for the light orange pegasus he's no longer under Streak's requirements... Meaning he's now dressed to the tail in his winter things.

However, the saddle, bag, boots and deep red scarf do little to fend off the cold gust. Sparky slowly starts to extend his neck as the doors to the library comes within hooves reach.

The light orange stallion waste no time trotting into the warm and bright building as he slowly shivers off the weather from outside.

It takes a moment for the young stallion to really bring his mind back up as he mindlessly just turns his head around the area inside.

"Looking for somepony dear?"

The feminine voice snaps Sparky's mind into action as he turns to the familiar older mare, "Y-ya, i'm looking for Violet?"

The old mare nods her head as she balances a few books next to her as she speaks up, "She's sitting over there last I saw her."

Sparky turns his head to the other side of the library as he tries to look for the light purple mare, however he turns his head back to the old mare as he looks over the few books she seems to be struggling with, "Do you want some help?"

The comment flicks the mare's ear as she sparks up a smile, "Why yes, if you could." Without a second guess the mare passes all of the books to Sparky's hold as the pegasus quickly takes himself to his wings in order to keep them from falling.

"Could you just go and put them on the checkout desk please?" The old mare shakes her head as she starts to trot away, "I will never understand why no pony puts their books back..."

Sparky gives a friendly nod as he quickly dashes over towards the desk to set the books down. As he places the books to an empty spot he turns his head back to the study area as he sets himself to the ground and starts up his trot.

For a moment the groups of ponies at every table yield no results for his search, however it only takes another look for Sparky's eyes to lock to his friend.

But his eyes slowly drift to the tan unicorn stallion as he nears the table's on going conversation, "...Oh, ok i'll try that spell tomorrow."

Sparky is silent as he nears the two ponies, however the sight of the brighter coated stallion turns Violet's eyes as she looks up from the opened book with a smile as she hooves out a hello.

"Hey Violet..." Sparky slightly shifts his eyes to the stallion as he continues, "Sorry I'm late, I went by your room first... I didn't know we would be meeting up at the library today."

Violet blinks to the comment as she starts to look around the room, it's at this point her eyes turn to the darkening orange sky that just barely pours in through the top of the library's glass dome in the middle of the room.

Asher speaks up as he slides his book a little away from Violet, "Actually that's my fault, I shouldn't have asked for help on everything." As he pulls the book back to the stack he turns his head to Sparky as he speaks up with a smile, "Oh... I don't believe we've meet."

Sparky shells out the same friendly smile as he straightens his posture, "I'm Sparky."

"Hello Sparky, my name is Asher Flax..." As his comment ends Asher turns his head towards the dome window as he stands up, "... And I think it's time I head back to the castle, I would hate to get lost in the city."

Sparky blinks to the comment as he takes a step to his right for the stallion that now sparks his horn up to collect his things.

However before he leaves he turns to Violet as he speaks up, "Thank you again Violet, we'll have to do it again sometime."

Violet gives a little nods as Asher turns to trot away.

As the gold and brown maned stallion trots away Sparky brings his voice up as he looks to his friend, "C-castle huh?"

The comment doesn't really turn Violet's head as she just gives out a simple reply while she turns to collect her satchel.

"Oh, first year student huh?" Sparky gives a little chuckle as he starts to move towards the seat.

However, before he can sit down Violet turns a confused eye to him as she brings her hooves up.

Sparky blinks to the comment as he speaks up, "What am I doing?... A-aren't we going to study?"

Violet wiggles her hoof to the comment as she stands from her seat and moves her bag around her, all the while as she hooves out another comment.

"Leaving? You tired already?" Violet squints to the comment as she hooves out a quick response as she adjust the bag around her.

A faint laugh comes up form Sparky as he finally picks up on the mare's comment, "You trying to say i'm slow or something?"

Violet happily nods her head as she sparks up another teasing comment.

Sparky blows to the joke as he stands up and waits for the mare to lead on, "Pff, I'll have you know i'm still the smartest in my class."

The light purple mare holds her smile as she takes a step forward, only to stop and hover out another comment.

Sparky keeps his head held high as he smiles, "How do you know I didn't count math?"

The choice in words brings a low wheezing laugh from the mare as she starts her trot up, Sparky follows close beside her as the light purple mare leads the way.

It only takes a few moments for the two young ponies to trot out into the cold wintery weather, as they do Sparky shivers a little as he speaks up, "So how far is it again?"

The comment brings a sly smile to the mare's face as she takes on a proper stance and sparks her horn up. Sparky blinks to the quickly glowing blue magic as it starts to creep over to his coat, however just as the warming effects of the magic start to take over a slight poof sound comes up as the area around them turns into a blue shine.

End of chapter 10