24k Lush

by TheRedFox

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Sunset Shimmer, Sweetie Belle, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Starlight Glimmer, Trixie
Length: 8720

Sweetie Belle believes in magic. She hopes that'll be enough.

Sweetie Belle has an idea for the upcoming Ponyville Friendship Festival, but she can't do it alone. Even if being alone is all she has.

A Christmas and birthday gift for one of my best friends, wishcometrue. Thank you for everything you've done!

Cover art done by Snow Quill!

Published 2020-12-16 18:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2020-12-16 18:40:00 UTC

Twilight

I’ve heard it said that magic is like a river. It runs deep below our skin and coats, and drives through our hearts and souls. It exists in every breath we draw and in every word we speak. It resonates whenever our hooves touch the ground, or whenever the wind graces our wings, and of course whenever our horns take on that faint flicker of light.

Throughout my journeys I have found that the very idea of magic is almost universal. The buffalo believe in spirits that guide the weather and grant them blessings. The hippogriffs believe that deep within the ocean it is magic that moves the waves above them. Even the griffons have faith in the concept, as records from ancient scholars show.

So yes. I do believe in magic, strange as it may sound. But I believe in something deeper as well.

“But I believe in something deeper as well.” Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow as she read the passage aloud. “Huh. That’s kind of deep, Twilight.”

Twilight chuckled, flipping a page in her own book. “It is! A. K. Yearling’s writing never ceases to amaze me, no matter what she writes about. Even her academic papers’ references pages are amazing!”

Sweetie rolled her eyes, letting out a giggle. “Of course, Twilight.” She set the book down on the table, swapping it for her coffee mug in her magic.

“But anyways, I think that’s enough to get you started,” Twilight continued. “So, how’s your casting practice going?”

“Great!” Sweetie squeezed her eyes shut, focusing her energy as a soft glow began to emit from her horn. “I’m able to get a pretty nice beam going if I focus really hard.” She put a little more strength into her spell, and the beam began to waver across the room, almost dancing across the ceiling before it faded away. “But I haven‘t been able to practice much. I’ve been so busy planning for the Friendship Festival. Thanks again for leaving me in charge of it, by the way. It’s a huge honor!”

Twilight chuckled. “Well, it’s the least I could do to repay you for all the help you’ve been giving me with the School. These books should give you enough to work with.”

“Yeah! I’ve got a bunch of ideas already,” Sweetie continued. She opened Yearling’s book again, flipping through the pages. “The Friendship Festival is super important after all. I mean, just look at how much it meant to you guys.”

“Right. Hopefully, it will inspire dozens of ponies, just as friendship inspired me all those years ago,” Twilight continued. “Just think of all the friendships that could be made!” She sighed, staring out of the palace window and into Ponyville itself. “And yeah, the girls and I sure had our moments.”

Sweetie glanced up from her book as stray beams of sunlight fell across Twilight’s face. The beams highlighted stray particles of dust floating through the air like artificial snow flakes, melting away as they passed.

“How is Rarity, by the way?” Twilight asked, her voice reminding Sweetie of an early winter morning. “We haven’t spoken in awhile. She’s just been so busy with her stores and everything else, sometimes I’m not even sure what city she’s in.”

“She’s fine,” Sweetie replied. “Super busy and all, but she's actually visiting Ponyville soon.”

“Busy. Aren’t we all,” Twilight remarked, running her hoof against the windowsill. “Wish I had time to have tea with her, but I’m booked for the rest of the month. Year, really. And I’m sure she’s busy as well…”

Sweetie slid out of her seat, trotting next to the Princess. “Twilight? What’s wrong?”

“Hm? Oh, nothing,” Twilight said, straightening herself out. “Just nostalgic, I guess.” When Sweetie raised her eyebrow, Twilight chuckled and shook her head. “It’s nothing you need to worry about, Sweetie. What was that plan you were eager to show me?”

“Well… if you’re sure it’s nothing.” Sweetie seized her sketchbook in her magic, levitating it over to Twilight. “So, I was just thinking about how the Sonic Rainboom was a crucial part in you meeting your friends. I was thinking that the Friendship Festival should have something similar.”

Twilight rubbed her chin, flipping through the pages. “Well, I think that’s a fantastic idea! Rainbow might be a bit busy with her Wonderbolt duties, but I’m sure she’d be glad to help out.”

“There’s just one thing,” Sweetie said, scuffing her hoof against the carpet. “I kind of want it… to not be the Rainboom.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “What? What do you mean?”

“Well, I wanted to try and do my own thing. Send a signal of my own, I guess. I just want it to be original,” Sweetie explained, rubbing the back of her mane. “I’m just… not sure how to do that.”

“Hmm.” Twilight set Sweetie’s sketchbook back on the table, her eyes scanning over the shelves in her study. “Well, I guess I could you could cast a flare spell, but what you sketched in here seems to be on a much bigger scale. I’m… not certain if I know of a spell one unicorn could cast alone.”

Sweetie’s ears drooped and her smile slipped away. “Oh. Well… I guess we can ask Rainbow then.” With a sigh she turned away, taking a few slow steps back towards the table. “Thanks anyways, Princess Twilight.”

“Sweetie Belle, wait.” Twilight’s voice made her pause, and Sweetie glanced behind her. “There… there might be something.” Twilight trotted over to Sweetie, clearing her throat. “A long time ago, back when I was still in Celestia’s school, I read of an old unicorn legend. The legend goes that somehow, a group of unicorns were able to cast a beam of light so bright that it almost turned the night into day.”

“Really? Wow!” Sweetie perked up again at the news. “That sounds like exactly what I’m looking for.”

Twilight held her hoof up warily. “There’s one problem. The spell only appeared as a footnote in a larger text. I looked before in the past, but there really isn’t much information about it today. All I’ve been able to piece together is the number twenty four thousand, but I don’t have a clue what it means.”

Sweetie blinked in confusion. “So… you don’t know how to cast it?”

Twilight shook her head. “All we know is that the spell seemed to have originated from a group of magicians calling themselves the Magician’s Guild.” A small smile crept onto her muzzle as she continued. “But, luckily for us, I think there’s one great and powerful pony in Ponyville that might know more.”

“Of course.” Sweetie seized her sketchbook again, scribbling some notes furiously. “Thanks, Twilight!”

Twilight nodded in reply. “I’ll keep looking in the archives myself to see if I can find anything else,” she said as she trotted over to her writing desk. “But in the meantime, I think you should definitely talk to Trixie. She might know something we don’t.”

Sweetie shoved her book into her saddlebag and headed for the door. As she seized the knob in her magic, she hesitated and looked back at Twilight. “Uh… Twilight?”

The Princess looked up from her writing, and it was then Sweetie noticed the bags that had embedded themselves underneath her eyes.

“Do you… do you miss your friends?”

Twilight was quiet for a minute. Her eyes slid over to the right of her desk, where they lingered on a set of dusty, framed photos. “Of course, Sweetie. As much as you miss yours,” she finally said. “But I can’t really blame them, can I? Applejack’s family needs her, Rainbow’s Wonderbolt duties have her flying around Equestria, Rarity has her store and Pinkie has her dessert chain project… even Fluttershy is tied up with her position as Royal Wildlife Advisor. That’s just the way life is sometimes,” Twilight finished. “Thanks for asking, but I’m fine. Really. You better get going now.”

Sweetie mustered up a smile and waved. Twilight waved back mechanically, and Sweetie gently shut the door behind her.

Trixie

History is rife with evidence that magic seems to go beyond its common definition. Alicorns themselves serve as a trinity of the three forces at play within each pony, harnessing an earth pony’s strength, a pegasus’s flight, and a unicorn’s spellcasting. With this in mind, it becomes clear that there is a kind of magic in all of us. Even unicorns who have lost their horns or possess birth defects have claimed to feel a moving force beneath their skin, begging to be released.

Earth ponies may not be able to describe what runs through their bodies, but there is undeniably something there. Something that helps them to pull wagons and find the perfect spot to buck a tree, something that tells them the best place to plant or the best time to harvest. Even those who aren’t farmers seem to possess some strange ability along these lines.

The same can be said for pegasi. I myself have realized that I have an intricate understanding of the way the wind moves, and how to best position myself for it to carry me. Grounded pegasi as well have claimed that the sky speaks to them, that it calls out to them, even if they can not rise to meet it. My colleagues call these feelings a number of things, such as instinct, but to me, these feelings are magic.

The distant sound of laughter pulled Sweetie from her musings. Her ear twitched in annoyance as she glanced up, watching as a group of young students trotted out of a classroom.

Sweetie rolled her eyes, flipping another page in her book. But it was no use, as the magic was lost and the words no longer encapsulated her. She groaned in defeat, flipping the book shut and slumping backwards on the bench.

Her eyes drifted up to the arched ceiling of the School of Friendship, and a part of her wondered how her life could have been different if this very school existed when she was a foal.

A foal. The thought put a smile on her face. She still remembered when she would wake up sweaty and crying from a nightmare of being a blank flank forever. But those days were gone now. The fact that she was alone was proof enough.

Her smile wavered a bit as a creeping length of loneliness found its way into her heart. It wasn’t like she could blame her friends. They were destined for great things, after all. But sometimes Sweetie wished she knew what she was destined for.

She never expected for Scootaloo to hang around. The mare was always bouncing off the walls, after all, so it didn’t surprise anyone when she signed up as a roadie for the Wonderbolts tour. Sweetie figured she’d still have Apple Bloom at least, but instead she was dismayed to learn that her friend wanted to travel and help out the members of her clan all over Equestria.

Which left her alone. Spending time with Twilight and her sister’s friends instead of her own.

“Sweetie Belle!”

The door to her right opened, and a booming, dramatic voice ripped out her name.

“What a pleasure it is to see you! Tell me, what brings you to see the Great and Powerful Professor Trixie?”

Sweetie smiled, quickly gathering her things and leaping to her hooves. The two shared a quick embrace before Sweetie replied. “Hi Trixie! I was just hoping to talk with you if that’s okay?’

Trixie’s grin grew wider as she tipped the brim of her magician’s cap at her. “Why of course! The Great and Powerful Trixie always has time for you!” Her horn glowed a faint blue and the door opened fully. Trixie turned on her hoof and trotted inside the classroom, Sweetie following behind.

“Please, make yourself at home,” Trixie declared, throwing out a foreleg and gesturing to the wide away of empty seats and desks in front of her. “Are you well? How has your stage magic and sleight of hoof been developing?”

Sweetie grinned, pulling a playing card from her saddlebag. She fired a quick spell at the base of the card and it flew upwards. As it reached the apex of its arc she let loose another spell, and the card vanished from view, only for Sweetie to reach behind her own ear and pull it out. “Ta-da!”

“Most impressive!” praised Trixie. “Truly, one day you may be as powerful as Trixie herself.”

“Thanks!” Sweetie replied, sticking the card back into her bag. “You’re not busy right now, are you?”

“There are indeed many ponies waiting to see the Great and Powerful Trixie,” Trixie answered, levitating a mug full of coffee in her magic. She quickly winked at Sweetie before continuing. “But don’t worry. My office hours don’t start for another twenty minutes.”

Sweetie nodded, setting her bag on the floor. “This shouldn’t take that long. How have you been, Trixie?”

“Trixie has been most wonderful!” Trixie declared, kicking her rear legs up on the desk. Her smile shimmered for a second as she reached out to touch a framed photograph on her desk. “Headmare Starlight… not so much.”

“Oh. Is everything alright?” Sweetie asked, leaning in.

Trixie pushed the photo gently to the right. “Stress, I suppose. It gets to all of us.” With a sigh, she waved her hoof dismissively. “Bah, that’s not why you’re here. Tell me, how can Trixie help you today.”

Sweetie levitated her sketchbook from her bag, flipping it open and setting it in front of Trixie. “Well, Twilight put me in charge of organizing the Friendship Festival in Ponyville this year. I was thinking about Rainbow’s Sonic Rainboom being able to unite Twilight and her friends originally, and I was thinking to base the theme off of that!”

Trixie accepted the sketchbook and began flipping through the pages, rubbing her chin and nodding. “Trixie thinks that the idea has merit. Would you like Trixie to assist with anything? Perform a magic show? Supervise pyrotechnics?”

“Sorry, Trixie, but after last year, Fizzlepop said that she wouldn’t come if she wasn’t the one in charge of the firework display.”

The two mares giggled at the memory.

“But there’s a little bit more,” Sweetie said. “Check the last page.”

Trixie complied, and the mare’s eyes went wide.

“See, I was wondering what we could do to replicate the Rainboom itself,” Sweetie explained. “I brought it up with Twilight, and she mentioned some spell called--”

“The 24k Lush,” Trixie finished.

Sweetie perked up. “You know it? Twilight said it was associated with the Magician’s Guild, so I thought maybe you would have known.”

Trixie nodded, exhaling slowly as she set down the notepad. “Of course. The 24k Lush was… a legendary tale, Sweetie. From long before the three tribes were united.” Trixie stood up, walking over to the blackboard. “The story goes that there was a solar eclipse that overtook the land. The founding ponies of the Magician’s Guild feared that the sun would never return, so they hatched a plan to make a… replacement, of sorts.

“They cast a beam of light so bright and powerful it was seen all over Equestria. A pegasus general was awakened by it and was believed to have said it must have been the product of twenty four thousand drunkards, giving it its name.”

Trixie frowned, running her hoof against the side of her desk. “I’ve only heard some stories myself from older magicians. Nopony’s really thought to try and replicate it before, and even then, we don’t know how it was originally done.”

Sweetie perked up. “Well, we have some of the smartest ponies in Equestria around now! Starlight, Twilight, Sunburst, Starswirl… even Celestia and Luna! Maybe one of them could know?”

Trixie trotted back to the desk, flipping through Sweetie’s notebook again. “Perhaps… From what I’ve heard, it will take a lot of magic. Twenty four thousand ponies may have been an overestimate, but for something this scale…”

“But you’re saying it might be possible!” Sweetie eagerly levitated a pencil in her magic, scribbling notes and sketches into her book. “This is great! It’d fit in with the theme perfectly. A giant signal across the sky for everypony to see. Think of all the ponies it’d inspire! Oh, this is great, Trixie!”

Trixie chuckled, fetching her own paper and quill. “Trixie does agree. The 24k Lush spell is one that Trixie has heard of in passing, but never even thought about casting!”

Sweetie nodded, grinning widely. “I know! Of course there’s still a lot to figure out, but I think this is just the thing I was looking for to tie this whole thing together!”

Trixie clapped her hooves together, still scribbling furiously. “Trixie has not been this excited about anything in a long time! But you’re right, there is a lot to figure out. In a way though, Trixie thinks that casting this spell is very similar to stage magic.”

“How so?”

“Well, the spell is like an illusion. It may be as bright as the sun but it certainly won’t burn like one. Starlight would definitely know more! Trixie will ask her...” The magician’s ears dropped and her ears began to fold. “...when Starlight has time.”

“Are… are you sure everything is okay?” Sweetie asked, the foalish glee slipping from her face.

“Trixie… Hm. I am worried about Starlight,” Trixie answered. “She has been working herself pretty hard lately. Nowadays it seems that she has more bad days than good ones, and it frustrates me that there isn’t much I can do.”

Sweetie reached out and gently placed her hoof over Trixie’s. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, “but I know you two can get through it. Is there anything you need from me?”

Trixie chuckled softly. “Many thanks, but it isn’t something you need to concern yourself with.” She glanced up at the clock and snatched her sheet of paper, tacking it to her corkboard. “Trixie will ask Starlight when she is free. Unfortunately, I must prepare for office hours soon. Will you be fine without me?”

Sweetie nodded, packing her things. “I think so! Thanks a ton, Trixie!”

Trixie responded with a salute, and Sweetie Belle headed for a door.

“But the Great and Powerful Trixie still gets to do a magic show, right?” Trixie called after her.

Sweetie laughed. “Of course, Trixie. Of course.”

“Then that is all Trixie could ask for. Good luck!”

As Sweetie ran down the hall, she paused. A group of three students passed her by, laughing and making jokes with each other. Her ears drooped down and her pace slowed down, the loneliness creeping back into her heart.

The foals laughed again, but it fell upon deaf ears.

Rarity

Starswirl the Bearded and dozens of other unicorn scholars have written extensive articles about the functionality of unicorn magic, and other researchers have since expanded their work to the magic inherent in earth ponies and pegasi as well. But still, I wasn’t satisfied. Because I believed that magic was something far greater than what Starswirl defined, and something much broader than anyone originally thought.

If we can take the example of emotions, for example. There is a certain way that we feel when we are happy, and a way that we feel when we are sad. But yet, no matter what we feel, emotion seems to be a spell cast upon our memories, so that we remember each one within a context. Whether it be joy or sorrow, every memory, I believe, is drenched in this magic, so that it is nearly inseparable from the feeling itself.

Perhaps I’m wrong to call emotionality itself magic, but I do assert that there is a magic there. There is some strange force that we feel that drives us to love and to hate, and that pumps stronger than blood through every pony in this world. And that, I believe, is a force stronger than anything Starswirl could have thought of.

A pair of foals dotted in front of Sweetie, giggling and screaming as they chased each other. Sweetie wavered a bit, but didn’t drop the bags from her magic.

To her right, her sister laughed. “My, my, how time sure has flown. I remember when you were as young as they were,” Rarity declared, pulling her own bags a little bit higher.

“You’re telling me,” Sweetie muttered.

If Rarity noticed this remark she didn’t address it. “Thank you for taking the time to greet me, by the way. I’m sure you have plenty to do.”

“Yeah, it’s no problem,” Sweetie replied. “Are you staying in Ponyville for long?”

“I’m afraid not,” Rarity replied. “I’ll only be able to stay for a few days, Sassy needs me back in Canterlot to help manage the new line.”

“Yeah, I suspected as much,” Sweetie sighed.

Rarity shot her a weary glance. “Oh, darling, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Sweetie affirmed, glancing up at the sky. The sun was beginning to set over the horizon, and a team of pegasi were puttering below the clouds, setting up the evening landscape.

“Sweetie, I know you a bit better than that,” Rarity said, placing her hoof on Sweetie’s shoulder. “What’s the matter?”

Sweetie sighed, turning her eyes down to the ground. “I just… miss them.”

“Ah.” Rarity nodded in understanding, squeezing her sister’s shoulder. “I miss my friends too, dear.”

“It’s different, Rarity,” Sweetie protested. “You guys are famous for your friendship.”

“Well that may be true, but that doesn’t mean we see each other as often,” Rarity replied with a toss of her mane. “I believe I last properly spoke to Twilight… oh dear, it must have been at least half a year ago. And it was on a Friendship Mission, no less. Not as much time for catching up as either of us would have liked.”

Sweetie furrowed her eyebrows. “That… that can’t be right! Didn’t you talk to her at your Fall Line Debut?”

“Twilight couldn’t make it, darling,” Rarity replied with a chuckle. “But can you blame her? Her duties have only increased in recent times. I suppose it’s a shame, but if she’s happy then I’m in no place to complain.”

“But… that’s the thing,” Sweetie replied. She kicked at the dirt gently, watching as a small cloud of dust spun off into the air. “I feel like you guys have a right to complain. It just… it feels like everyone I’ve talked to lately has been having these problems. I mean, you guys are Equestrian heroes! But… I don’t know, it’s like you all forgot how to be yourselves or something.”

Rarity was silent for a moment, but Sweetie still felt her sister’s hoof on her shoulder. “You do raise a very good point,” Rarity began. “And you know I love you, but I don’t know what you can do for us at the moment.”

Sweetie frowned, her ears pressing down against the side of her head. “I… I wish there was, Rarity.”

“Enough about us, Sweetie, I want to know how you are doing,” Rarity declared.

“I don’t know,” Sweetie began. “I’ve been lonely, I guess. Living alone, without Scoots or Apple Bloom around… it’s been weird. And we’ve been sending letters and stuff, but it isn’t the same. I feel so… useless. I just… I don’t know where I’m going. I want to tell them I still care, but I don’t know how. ” Her voice wavered as she spoke, shaking in small, subtle ways that were almost indecipherable. But Rarity never missed a single detail.

Her sister pulled into a tight hug. “You most definitely are going somewhere,” she whispered. “Even if you move at your own pace. I promise you that much. And you’re not useless. In fact, you’re golden, darling. Golden. Besides, you’re working hard on the Friendship Festival, aren’t you? You said that you have a marvelous spell planned for the grand finale.”

“If I can pull it off,” Sweetie replied, swiping at her eyes. She was surprised when her hoof came up wet. “I still have a lot to figure out.”

“Then why don’t you do it for them?” Rarity suggested. “Use it as a sign, perhaps. Something that they can see no matter where they are in Equestria. Something so big and grand they can’t possibly miss it.”

Sweetie smiled, leaning into her sister’s side. “That sounds like a great idea. Thanks. But speaking of the spell, I was going to ask you to help me with the colorations of it.”

“Why of course,” Rarity replied, ruffling Sweetie’s mane. “Now, what say you join me for supper tonight? I have a new recipe that I am just dying to try.”

Sweetie giggled, and the two set off back down the road.

Starlight

I’ve come to find that there are many definitions of the concept of magic. Some consider the spells unicorns cast to be magic, while others claim that it is the energy itself that lets them spellcast. I find both definitions to be intriguing.

Can it be true that magic is both? Surely, each spell must feed on something in order to come to fruition. But yet it wouldn’t seem out of scope to call the discharge itself magic as well. By expanding our conception of what is magic, I believe that we can open up whole new avenues of discovery. No matter how frustrating these avenues might be to navigate, I think that each path is worth exploring.

“I don’t know.” Starlight frowned, tapping her front hooves together before resting her chin on them. She squinted at the parchment below her as if it had offended her. “It’d take a lot of work.”

“Luckily for you, Trixie is no stranger to work,” Trixie replied, placing a hoof on Starlight’s shoulder.

Starlight glared at Trixie before brushing it off, going back to the paper. “Sweetie, I think this idea definitely has merit, but it’ll take a lot to pull off. By my calculations we’re going to need a small army of unicorns to generate anything even close to being powerful enough.”

“I know,” Sweetie replied, “But I think that we can get that many unicorns! Twilight has a lot of connections who I’m sure would be happy to help, and she was saying that we might even be able to get Luna and Celestia to pitch in!”

Starlight sighed again, squinting harder at the paper.

“Come on, Starlight,” Trixie urged, poking at her side. “It’ll be fun!”

“It could also be a logistical nightmare,” Starlight proclaimed, setting the paper down on the table. “I mean, I can’t even imagine trying to get that many unicorns to tune in to the same radial frequency, much less maintain the same shade of color that you want.”

Sweetie wavered, but Trixie gave her an encouraging nod from Starlight’s side. “Well, if there’s anypony who can pull it off, I’m sure it’s you guys.”

“Besides, we have Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Solving Logistical Nightmares,” Trixie chimed in. “In fact, she’s probably been dreaming of some problem like this, waiting to be solved!”

Starlight sighed again, squeezing her eye shut and raising a hoof to the bridge of her nose. “I just don’t know, Sweetie. There are so many variables to account for…” Without looking, Starlight pulled one of her desk drawers open in her magic and levitated a small pill bottle into her hoof. She popped the cap and placed a tablet of aspirin in her mouth, swallowing it quickly.

“Oh, come on Starlight!” Trixie said, leaning her back against the desk.

Starlight flinched as Trixie raised her voice, but the magician didn’t notice.

“Where’s your sense of adventure? This’ll be fun! And it could even be, dare I say, romantic?” Trixie swept her foreleg backwards in a grand gesture, but her hoof made contact with a stack of binders. They came crashing to the floor, but Starlight quickly caught them in her magic before they hit the ground.

“Cut it out!” Starlight hissed at Trixie, her eyes suddenly burning with a hazy rage. “Do you always have to make a mess out of everything?”

Trixie frowned before crossing her forelegs. “Well if it is the only way I can get your attention, then yes!”

“What in Equestria are you on about?!” Starlight’s voice climbed an octave and Sweetie shrunk backwards in her seat, suddenly becoming very interested in the office carpet.

“This is the first time you’ve even addressed me in this conversation!” Trixie replied, matching Starlight in tone.

“Maybe it’s because I have nothing to say to you!”

“Oh, is that where we are now? Well, the Great and Powerful Trixie is seriously reconsidering where we stand in this relationship!”

Starlight growled, and Sweetie could practically see veins popping out of her head. “Sweetie,” she said without breaking eye contact with Trixie. “Why don’t you come back later.”

Sensing that it wasn’t a suggestion, Sweetie hastily shoved her things into her saddlebag and bolted for the office door. She kicked it shut behind her, flinching as the noise echoed down the empty halls.

Sweetie sighed, slumping down on her haunches with her back pressed against the door. She flinched as she heard yelling from the other side, words clashing like swords and colliding with the force of a thousand suns.

Her ear twitched as Trixie’s voice carried over from the other side of the door. “Why are you so against this, Starlight?”

“Because it’s impossible!” Starlight shouted back. “It isn’t going to happen!”

Sweetie went numb at that. She shakily opened her sketchbook, putting a hoof down on the pages. Scribbled notes and sketches stared back at her: eager plans and optimistic smiley faces, mixed in with color charts and frequency notes. Hopes for the future.

With a growl, Sweetie tossed the book down the hall as far as she could. “Useless,” she muttered. “This isn’t happening. Stupid of me to even think that I could have pulled this off.”

She leaned her head back, staring up at the foam ceiling tiles. If she pretended hard enough, she could see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo staring back at her. She wondered if their faces were looking on in sadness or disappointment.

“WELL MAYBE I DON’T WANT THAT!”

Starlight’s shout shattered the image, and the shapes of her friends quickly became nothing more than random dots decorating the tile.

Her eyes blurred and her breath became shaky. A wave of feeling flushed through her, a flash flood of humiliation, defeat, nostalgia, and regret. She cried and wished that Apple Bloom would embrace her in a hug, or Scootaloo would take her hoof and squeeze it.

But it wouldn’t happen, because they weren’t there. Not even if she believed…

Sweetie froze when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She jerked her head up to see a hazy orange and red figure before her, face obscured by a veil of tears.

“Sweetie Belle? What’s wrong?”

Sunset

I must concede there are of course limitations to my claim, and that not every force in this world can be classified as magic. But, I believe that it is important for us to have a base to work off of. There is much of magic by my classification that we have yet to explore and yet to understand. Working from a base means that we can establish different kinds of magic, and from there seek a broader understanding of the world around us.

Sweetie wiped the tears from her eyes and a face formed before her. “S-Sunset?”

Sunset Shimmer tossed her mane back and laughed. “The one and only!”

“What are you doing here?” Sweetie asked, trying to stifle her tears.

“Twilight invited me over for the Festival,” Sunset answered. “I wanted to stop by and visit some friends, but… well, I take it now isn’t the best time.” She jerked her head at the office door, where Trixie and Starlight’s argument continued in intensity. “But what about you?”

“I was…” Sweetie glanced behind her, at the fogged glass of the door. “Talking with Starlight about something. But she doesn’t seem interested. Besides, it was a stupid idea anyways.” She spat out the last word bitterly.

Sunset frowned, levitating Sweetie’s sketchbook up in her magic. “Is this yours?”

Sweetie nodded, pulling herself to her hooves. “Yeah, but I don’t need it anymore.”

Sunset opened the book, skimming it's pages thoughtfully. “Hm. Here, why don’t you sit?” She guided Sweetie over to a bench, gently setting her down. “What’s so stupid about this idea of yours?”

“Well, Twilight put me in charge of the Friendship Festival. I wanted to have my own variation of a Rainboom, some signal to inspire ponies around Equestria. Trixie told me about a spell called the 24k Lush, and I was trying to get enough unicorns to cast it,” Sweetie explained as she fought back hiccups.

“Why’s it a stupid idea?” Sunset asked, tilting her head to the side. “I think that sounds fantastic!”

Sweetie shrugged. “I guess. But… I get the feeling ponies aren’t really up for that. I mean…” Sweetie gestured vaguely at Starlight’s office. “It just feels like they’re all so busy dealing with their own problems now. And I want to help them, but… I can’t.”

Sunset took in Sweetie’s words carefully. “Hm. Well, I guess I can understand feeling like that. Sometimes our friends go through challenges just like us, and as much as we want to help them, it feels like there’s nothing we can do. But, I think I’ve realized that there’s one important thing that can always be done.”

“What’s that?” Sweetie asked.

“Being there,” Sunset replied. “Knowing that you have someone in your corner who believes in you and is willing to back you up can mean more than you can ever know.” She tapped a hoof to her own chest, giving Sweetie a warm smile. “I’ve learned that many times over.”

“But what if it isn’t enough?”

“Sweetie, we all face challenges,” Sunset continued. “And even friendships can get shaky. But there are times when we have to face those challenges alone. Like Starlight and Trixie. They love each other a lot, but this is something they have to figure out. But, if they ever need help, I’m sure that you and many others would be there in a heartbeat.”

Sweetie nodded in agreement. “I’ve offered, but everypony keeps saying they’re fine.”

“And if they ever need something, I’m sure you’d be the first pony they ask,” Sunset answered. “Ponies can be stubborn like that, Sweetie. It’s true that sometimes they don’t know when to ask for help, but other times their battle is one they have to take alone.”

“I… I guess,” sighed Sweetie. “But it sure doesn’t make me feel any better.”

Sunset ruffled Sweetie’s mane with a soft chuckle. “That’s because you’re a good pony, Sweetie. You don’t like seeing others hurting.” Sunset levitated the sketchbook into her lap. “But hey, this spell of yours. Maybe you could use this to help everyone.”

“Really? How?”

“You said it yourself right here,” Sunset said, tapping a hoof on the page for emphasis. “This spell could inspire millions of ponies. Sometimes inspiration is what we need. Even if it isn’t, it sure can help.”

Sweetie nodded, taking a cleansing breath to expel the last of her tears. “Starlight was saying there were a lot of problems with getting it to work.”

Sunset shrugged in response. “Probably, but there always are going to be problems. What’d she bring up?”

“Uniting the frequencies and holding a unified color,” Sweetie replied.

Sunset nodded, pulling a quill from her own bags and flipping to a new page. “Hmm… I think we can work around that. We could use a spell spectrometer to split frequencies and figure out how much power we’ll need from each spellcaster, then divide accordingly. A color splitter spell could also help fine-tune the exact shade we want, but I think Rarity can handle that fine. Maybe if we combined it with firework casting methodology it’d increase the range and visibility...”

She paused to glance up and notice Sweetie gaping at her.

“What?” Sunset winked at her, laughing. “I was Celestia’s personal student for awhile. I may not live here, but I sure know a thing or two about magic. Besides, Twilight’s got me interested in picking up my old studies again.”

Sweetie blinked a few times. She realized now that it was quiet, and the shouting from behind the door had dropped to whispers. Looking up and down the empty hall gave her a strange feeling, one that lapped against her in soft, gentle waves. It was almost like magic. “There’s magic in the other world, isn’t there?” she asked.

“Yes,” Sunset replied. “There is. Some of it is Equestrian magic that bled over, but I think over there, it’s a whole field of its own.”

“Huh. So… there really is magic everywhere,” Sweetie mused.

“That there is,” Sunset laughed. “That there is.” She picked up her quill and turned to a fresh page. “Come on, Sweetie. Let’s talk this out. I think we can pull this off.”

Sweetie Belle

I would like here to return to my previous point about the question ‘do you believe in magic?.’ Odd as it may seem, I have posed this question to dozens and dozens of creatures across Equestria. Yet even if an answer I receive a no in reply, I find that these creatures do in fact believe in some unseen force. The difference lies in linguistic limitations, or perhaps another word, but the point does stand. There are things we don’t understand in this world and may never will. Call it magic, or another word, but my point stands.

The silence in the room was so thick that Sweetie could have cut it with a knife. She fidgeted in her seat with bated breath, eyes darting from pony to pony as papers shuffled and words were muttered.

Twilight, Rarity, Trixie, Starlight, and Sunset all sat around her, pouring over the papers that Sweetie had distributed.

She tapped her hoof on the table, trying to find a way to silently flush the anxiety from her system. But seeing the furrowed brows and hearing the quiet murmurs of her friends sent it flying back in.

Finally, after far too long, Twilight spoke. “This is… Sweetie, did you do all of this by yourself?”

“No,” Sweetie blurted out, her voice wavering slightly. She quickly cleared her throat and began again. “No, not exactly. I just put together what advice all of you gave me. It was like a, uh, math problem, I guess. Parts of color theory came in handy, along with the pyrotechnics spells Trixie taught me.”

“Yes, I recognize this part here,” Trixie said, tapping a hoof against the paper. “Starlight did voice some… concerns about the scale of this, but treating it like a stage trick could help make it more manageable.”

“The pyrotechnical aspect of it could help with getting it off the ground as well,” Twilight continued. “Fizzlepop could definitely help out with that. But using a focus beam in this manner is probably the most logical way to go about doing this.”

“And the color fluctuation shouldn’t be that much of a problem,” Rarity declared. “Besides, I think that the beauty of the 24k Lush is in the way the colors blend together.”

“Right,” Sunset agreed, “So while it’d be best to get every shade perfect, the end result might not vary as much based on individual streaks.”

“Exactly, darling,” confirmed Rarity. “What do you think then, Starlight?”

Starlight was quiet for a moment. She glanced to her left to catch Trixie’s eyes, but Trixie quickly looked away. Finally, she cleared her throat and looked at Sweetie. “I think this idea has more merit than I gave you credit for, Sweetie.”

Sweetie perked up at the compliment. “So… so you think it’s possible?”

“I think that overall, the pure power component might still be a problem,” Twilight said, seizing a piece of chalk in her magic and scribbling figures on the blackboard behind her. “But, like you said, I think I have a pretty good network of ponies I can ask.”

“Why don’t Rarity and I help with that?” volunteered Sunset. “We could send out all the letters with Spike. Besides, I’d love to catch up with her!”

“That sounds marvelous, Sunset,” Rarity affirmed. “No complaints from me!”

Trixie stood up from the table, straightening her cape. “The Great and Powerful Trixie shall go speak with Fizzlepop. Trixie is certain our combined knowledge will make this a most magnificent spectacle!” She paused, shooting a glance at Starlight before jerking her head at Sweetie.

Starlight nodded solemnly. “I’ll help you with those calculations, Twilight,” she said.

“Great! Sweetie, you’ve done the hard part, so we’ll take it from here,” Twilight said over her shoulder. “But if we need anything, we’ll be sure to ask you!’

“That’s okay, Twilight,” Sweetie said with a yawn. “I think I could use some rest anyways.”

“Wait, before you go,” Starlight called, coming around the table to her side. She sighed, rubbing one foreleg with the other before speaking. “I’m… sorry about what happened yesterday,” she said. “You really didn’t deserve to see Trixie and me fighting like that. Sunset told me that it really shook you up. It’s no excuse, but I think our emotions just got the better of us.”

Sweetie frowned. “It was… kinda scary. But is there anything I can do?”

“Honestly, Sweetie, I think this little project is exactly what we needed,” Starlight replied with a smile. “Just a distraction from everything that’s stressing us out. And a chance for us to work together again.”

“Are you sure you two will be okay?” Sweetie asked.

“We’re working through it,” promised Starlight, rubbing her eyes.

Sweetie gently took Starlight’s hoof in her own. “I know Trixie cares a lot about you,” she said. “She only wants the best for you.”

“I know. And I want the best for her,” sighed Starlight. “But thank you, Sweetie. You really are a sweetheart.”

The two giggled, before Twilight’s voice pulled them aside. “Starlight, do you mind double checking these numbers for me?”

“On my way!” Starlight called, before shooting one last glance at Sweetie. “Don’t worry, Sweetie. This will be great. I know it.”

Sweetie nodded in reply, and Starlight headed for the blackboard. With a tired sigh, Sweetie glanced around the library, before trotting for the exit. She was pleased to find that there was a fluttery feeling in her chest.

24k Lush

The night was dark, even darker than usual. The lampposts of Ponyville seemed to be tiny pricks in the dark, and even the stars seemed to be hesitant to reveal themselves. But while a younger Sweetie would have been scared, tonight she was only excited.

“Wow! This is really cool, Princess Luna,” she said, glancing at the alicorn on her right.

“Indeed,” Luna declared. “Twilight spoke to me about the optimal conditions for tonight, and I was all too happy to make them happen!”

“You aren’t the only one excited for tonight,” chimed in Celestia. “I’ve heard rumors of the spell myself, but even we have never seen it in person.”

“I’m just happy that you two were able to help out,” Sweetie answered. “Thanks for that.”

“Thank you for giving us this chance,” Celestia replied with a knowing smile. “And I get the feeling a lot of other ponies here tonight share that sentiment. Come, Luna, maybe we can get some… refreshments before we begin.”

As the two Princesses glided away, Sweetie took in the scene below her. She was sitting on a hill above the city, and several stalls and booths dotted the space below her. The Festival was winding down now, but many ponies had hung around to watch the spell.

“Hey, Sweetie,” came a voice from her right. Sunset trotted over to her side, with Rarity and Twilight close behind. “Great party. You did a fantastic job with everything.”

“Thanks,” Sweetie answered with a tired smile, “but I had a lot of help.”

“Maybe, but it was your ideas that drove this,” Twilight said. “I never even considered the possibility of such a spell myself. You did a great job, Sweetie. Don’t sell yourself short.”

Rarity pulled Sweetie into a tight hug, nuzzling her sister’s cheek. “I’m so very proud of you, dear,” she whispered. “You’ve come so far. And you’ve done an absolutely wonderful job tonight.”

“Trixie’s show just wrapped up,” Twilight said, glancing down the hill. “She and Starlight should be headed over shortly.”

Sweetie shivered, grinning in glee as Rarity released her from her embrace. “Do you guys feel something, like, tingling down your spine?”

The three laughed. “I think there definitely is something wonderful in the air tonight, darling,” Rarity replied.

Twilight pranced in place with a wide grin. “I know! I’m so excited! If we can pull this off it’ll surely go down in the history books as one of the best Friendship Festivals ever!”

“Only made possible by some of the best ponies ever,” called Starlight as she approached. “As I’m certain these ponies can attest to.”

“I’ll say! If this is everythin’ you’ve said it was, it’ll be one night to remember for sure,” Applejack said as she approached.

“Yeah! It sounds purely awesome!” Rainbow replied as she swooped down. “Not as awesome as the Rainboom, obviously, since nothing can top that. But I guess it can come close.”

“It definitely does sound exciting,” Fluttershy said as she landed next to Rainbow. “And you’ve definitely put a lot of work into this.”

“It’s definitely going to pay off!” cheered Pinkie as she popped out from behind Applejack. “I just know it!”

“Girls!” Twilight exclaimed, leaping over to hug them all. “You came!”

Sweetie watched as they exchanged hugs and greetings, bits of conversation flowing to her ears. But as much as she felt happy, a part of her couldn’t help but feel lonely. She stared up at the starless sky, and the vast, empty canvass of space seemed to swallow her whole.

“Hey, sugarcube,” called Applejack. “Thought you should know, we didn’t come alone.”

Sweetie raised an eyebrow, but before she could answer, someone tapped her on the back.

“Hey, Sweetie! Mighty fine festival you put together!”

She gasped, placing the voice instantly. Sweetie whirled around to see two familiar faces smiling at her. “Apple Bloom! Scootaloo! You… you came?!”

Scootaloo laughed, hovering above the ground. “Of course we came! You thought we would miss something as big as this?”

Apple Bloom trotted over and pulled Sweetie into a hug, and Scootaloo landed and added her wing to it. “Sorry we couldn’t come earlier,” she apologized, “but hoo-boy, is travelin’ a pain nowadays.”

“I’ll say!” Scootaloo scoffed. “Airships just don’t understand the concept of punctuality!”

“I’ve missed you girls a lot!” Sweetie whispered, hugging them tighter. “I’m… I’m really happy you guys are here tonight.”

“Aw, we missed you too,” Apple Bloom replied, patting her on the back. “Even if Scoots here won’t admit it.”

“Come on now,” Twilight said as she approached them. “We’ll all have plenty of time to catch up soon. Right now, we’ve got a spell to cast.”

Sweetie looked behind her to see a large group of ponies cresting the hill.

“Okay, ponies!” Fizzlepop shouted through a megaphone. “Let’s get this underway! Unicorns, you have your instructions. Light them up!”

Throughout the crowd, dozens and dozens of horns began to spark, casting multi-colored glows across their faces. Sweetie scanned the crowd in awe, full of faces she recognized and dozens more she didn’t. Starswirl, Sunburst, Lyra Heartstrings, Fancy Pants and Fleur, Amethyst Star… the list went on and on.

Around her, the others began to prepare as well. Celestia and Luna landed, closing their eyes and smiling. Twilight took a deep breath before shooting Sunset a reassuring smile. The two nodded and their horns began to glow. Trixie and Starlight leaned into each other, sighing in content and smiling wide. Their horns lit up together.

Rarity took Sweetie’s hoof in her own, tears in her own eyes. She nodded, and Sweetie returned the gesture. A brief flutter of anxiety pumped through her heart, but it disappeared as she saw Scootaloo and Apple Bloom smiling at her. With a confident grin, she focused her own energy and her horn began to glow.

“At the ready!” commanded Fizzlepop.

From each and every horntip, a pale yellow light began to stream out. They billowed through the air like ribbons in the wind, bouncing about in a gentle, easy fashion. Each beam met at the same point, a few feet above everyone’s heads.

The crowd gasped in awe, as the light reflected in their eyes. Each ribbon came together into a bright sphere that grew a bit bigger with every stream that hit it. The colors began to pulse and glow, in hundreds of shades of gold and yellow.

“Steady!” called Fizzlepop as she kept a guarded glance on the sphere.

“Looks good so far,” Trixie muttered, casting a different spell from her horn. “Are you ready, Fizzle?”

Another violet stream filled the base of the sphere from Fizzle’s horn. “Ready. Boosters are in place, ready for liftoff!” She declared. “On your command, Princess Twilight.”

“I think Sweetie should do it, actually,” Twilight replied with a knowing smile.

Sweetie gasped. “R-really?”

“Of course,” Twilight answered. “You deserve this.”

“Take us home!” cheered Trixie. “Let her rip!”

Sweetie stared out at the crowd as they buzzed with anticipation. She took a deep breath before nodding at Fizzlepop. “Let’s do this. Fire!”

At her command, the sphere shot straight up into the air. It climbed and it climbed until it practically brushed against the stars. The light grew brighter and brighter, before it finally exploded in a silent brilliance.

The entire sky was lit in a warm and gentle gold. From the sphere came a rainbow colored in solid gold. It shot across the sky like an arrow from a bow, becoming a golden comet as it soared on an arc through the sky.

As it flew, it continued to glow and shift in color, taking on vibrant shades of gold in every passing second. It soared through the air as a wondrous creature, and it seemed to sing with a melody so moving and so beautiful that the world itself seemed to yield to it.

It was beautiful.

Sweetie’s heart seemed to leap into her throat, beating with a foalish eagerness as her eyes grew wider. The amassed crowd was awestruck, staring up at the miniature sun as it gracefully danced across the sky like a phoenix through the night.

Apple Bloom slowly made her way over to Sweetie’s side. “Wow… Sweetie, this is…”

“Amazing!” finished Scootaloo. “This is, like, so cool! It’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen!”

With an immense effort, Sweetie broke her gaze from her work to look at the crowd around her.

Starlight and Trixie had embraced each other in a hug, as the comet reflected in bright gold in their eyes. Twilight and her friends sat nearby, smiling almost as brightly as the comet. Sunset caught her gaze and gave Sweetie a welcoming nod, mouthing ‘well done’ to her.

Sweetie took a deep breath as tears welled in her eyes again. She took a hesitant step forward and slowly raised her foreleg. Sweetie traced the arc with her hoof, keeping it aimed in the sky and at the ball of light.

Her smile grew ten times wider. She may have been lonely and scared of the future, and she may have missed her friends immensely. But not tonight. Tonight, she was gold.

To conclude, I do believe in magic. And I think everyone believes in magic, because magic is everywhere. Companionship is magic. Family is magic. Friendship is magic. Love is magic, fate is magic, our lives are magic. But perhaps most importantly of all, we are magic.