The Librarian

Mother is sick, severely sick. I don't know what's causing it or how to help her. She seems so frail and weak. It saddens me but Lulu isn't fairing any better. She's been rather hostile towards me lately, all of her words are filled with venom and spite. It's almost like she's blaming me for mother's ailment! I'm scared for her. She was always the playful one, she was always so happy, like nothing could bring her down. Now she's like this predator that wants to bring everyone down with her. I hope mother gets well soon, for not only mine but Lulu's sake as well.

"Really?!" Sweetie Belle's voice squeaked as from all the excitement she was holding back.

"Yes, Sweetie Belle, I do and I'm going to find it!" Twilight snatched the paper and the map and rushed the door leading back up to the lobby.

Sweetie Belle was right on her hooves and was moving at a fast pace. Excitement was driving both of them up the stairs as fast as they could. Twilight's mind was racing all the way up to the lobby. The location of the solar journal was revealed! There was a small problem though, it was hidden away in the Everfree which was known for it's explicit dangers and monsters. Twilight flashed back to when she encountered a cockatrice and was turned to stone. She shivered as she reached the opening. Bursting into the lobby Twilight shielded her eyes when the light flooded in. Sweetie Belle bounded in as well and started jumping around in a circle.

"This is so cool!" Twilight glanced over at Sweetie Belle and smiled even harder.

She looked over towards the forlorn book left on the pile. Twilight walked over and picked it up in her magenta aura and proceeded to close it but she stopped. Looking closely there was a line she missed, it spoke of a 'Librarian'. Twilight's eyes scanned the paper for more information.

The only pony ever known to hold the book was a pony defined from legend as The Librarian(See page 432). She supposedly kept the book for Celestia and guarded it all her days, prohibiting anyone from reaching it. No pony was ever able to best her and obtain the book. When the Librarian passed she took all knowledge and the location of the book to her grave. Investigation teams searched her library for answers but were unable to find any.

Twilight, having had her interest peaked, turned to the specified page. The title read 'The Librarian' and all the pages were intact. There was a picture of a pony dressed up in a mage's outfit and she cradled a staff in her left hoof. There was an entry written down at the bottom of the image.

The Librarian was known as Lady Dawn and served with the princess. She took the place of Starswirl the Bearded when he passed. She created magical enchantments and wandered Equestria in search of historical knowledge and cultural qualities. She officially became The Librarian after the Princess had supposedly entrusted her with the Solar Journal. No evidence has been found justifying the existence of this, the Princess did give an answer to the claim. "While Dawn did help me during her life, of the Solar Journal. I'm afraid your legend is just that, a legend."

Twilight flipped the page of the book onto the next page but came face to face with the back cover of the book. That was it, nothing more nothing less. Twilight closed the book and put it on the shelf. The questions started popping up one by one. Why was Celestia so keen on hiding the Solar Journal? Why did she entrust Dawn as it's safeguard? What was she trying hide? Twilight sat down on her haunches to think, she ignored Sweetie Belle's constant chatter on the other side of the lobby. The book had said they had searched her library, but where was said library? Twilight put it aside for now, that search would have to wait for another day. She looked down at the papers in her hooves, each one a factor in the discovery of the lost artifact.

Sweetie Belle had calmed down some while Twilight was lost in her book. The filly made her way over to Twilight and sat down next to her. She looked up at Twilight, then down at the papers, then at Twilight again with a blank face. She poked Twilight in the arm until she was able to grasp the attention of the spaced out mare. Twilight slowly glanced down at Sweetie Belle.

"Yes?"

"What are we going to do now?" Twilight blinked. Did she say we?

"What's this we stuff?"

"Aren't I going too?"

"Sweetie Belle, its in the Everfree forest!"

"I know I know, but I really want to find the Solar Journal too! After all I helped you find those papers." She pointed to the papers. "And on the way you could teach me some spells! See, it's a win-win situation!"

Twilight opened her mouth to object but quickly closed it. She did have a point. She helped find the location of the Solar Journal, even if she had discovered the documents revealing it's location by accident. After short thought about it Twilight gave in.

"Alright, you can go. But don't you think we should tell Rarity where we're going first?" Sweetie Belle groaned.

"Yeah, but she'll never let me go and I really want to! Twilight, do we have to?" Twilight thought about it for a moment.

Pros: Sweetie Belle could learn a lot from this journey, she'll learn some spells along the way which will help improve her magic, and she'll be able to help me with navigation. Cons: Rarity will be furious at me for taking Sweetie without permission, we don't know what will happen or what we'll encounter while in the Everfree, there's the possibility we might not be able to find the book at all!

Twilight weighed the pros and cons of the situation heavily and came to a decision. Even though Rarity would be severely angry with her, a young filly like Sweetie Belle might enjoy the trip into the forest.

"Alright, Sweetie, I won't tell your sister."

"YAY!"

"But."

"But?"

"I will have to leave a note telling Spike where we will be." Sweetie Belle cocked her head sideways in confusion.

"But wouldn't Spike just go an tell Rarity?" Twilight smiled which further confused Sweetie Belle.

"Don't worry about that, I've got it covered." Twilight pulled out a paper and quill and started scribbling out some words.

Sweetie Belle looked over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of what she was writing. Twilight finished up and placed the note on the table next to the flower vase.

Spike,

Gone Fishin' with Sweetie Belle. Be back later.

Twilight

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. They had recently learned the term cliche in school and at first Sweetie Belle didn't know of a good example of one, but she did now. Sweetie Belle gazed up from the note and saw that Twilight was no longer in the room. She glanced around looking for a hint of the purple unicorn, but couldn't find one. She called out to Twilight hoping she would answer and she could find out where she had disappeared to.

"Twilight?" There was no answer.

"Twilight?" Sweetie Belle's voice heightened a bit.

Still no response.

"Twilight!" Sweetie Belle called louder.

"What is Sweetie Belle?" Sweetie Belle thanked Celestia that Twilight responded this time and wandered into the kitchen.

"Where did you go?" Sweetie Belle noticed that most of the cabinets had almost nothing in them.

"Upstairs!"

Twilight was upstairs going through all of her plans. She wanted to bring her friends but it was applebuck season, and that meant AJ would be busy with harvest, Fluttershy would be a great help if she weren't so afraid to go within a mile of the forest. Rainbow would help but Twilight doubted that she would help given it was to get a book that wasn't Daring Do. Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie would mean that by the time they were ready to leave the whole town would know what they were doing and Rarity was a huge no-no because as Sweetie Belle mentioned she would never allow Sweetie Belle into the forest. Twilight mentally crossed out each of her friends and her mind wandered. Why would Celestia go through so much trouble to hide a book? Surely it's contents could benefit Equestria in some way right?

Twilight's mind flashed back to when she was filly.

Princess Celestia was sorting through her mail pile. Various letters about issues out of hand and other royal business flooded the mail bag. She was absolutely bored and was stuck doing something that only made matters worse. her newest student, Twilight Sparkle, walked into the throne room with a book in front of her nose. Celestia had noticed her student walk in and sat upright in her chair.

"Twilight Sparkle!" The filly broke away from her book to acknowledge her mentor.

"Hi, Princess! I don't meant to bother you but I have a question."

"What?"

"What's the Solar Journal?"

Celestia's heart stopped cold. She looked lifeless, a million emotions going through her mind. Twilight looked up at her mentor who was frozen on the seat. Twilight was afraid she had said the wrong thing. She immediately put down the book and hesitantly took a step forward.

"U-um, Princess?" No response.

"Prince-"

"Where did you hear that?" Twilight almost jumped out of her fur.

"I read about it in this book?" Celestia just stared blankly into space.

"What book was that?" Twilight shakily lifted the cover of the dropped book.

"Equestrian L-Legends." Celestia broke away from her staring and stared instead at the unicorn in the room.

"Twilight, the Solar Journal is nothing more than a myth. Nothing more nothing less, I do not want to hear anymore about it."

"B-b-but why?" Celestia sighed heavily and got up. She walked casually over to Twilight and Twilight in response put her head down. Celestia put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder and said in a stern voice.

"Twilight." Twilight made eye contact with her mentor.

"Sometimes, the past is better left buried."

Twilight was shaken from her reverie by another pony shaking her violently. She blinked twice and Sweetie Belle's face came into focus and then her voice became audible.

"Twilight? Twilight? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"Nothing important. You ready to go?" Sweetie Belle nodded.

"Yep! Wait, shouldn't we pack?" Twilight facehoofed.

In her daze she had forgotten to pack everything they needed for the trip. Twilight walked over to one of the closets and dug out her saddlebag as well as a smaller one for Sweetie Belle.She fitted the saddlebag on Sweetie Belle and fitted herself with her own. Levitating the map and paper into her saddlebag Twilight motioned for Sweetie Belle to follow her into the kitchen. She went over to one of the empty cabinets and opened it. Sweetie Belle's face adopted a look of confusion.

"Why isn't there anything in there?" Twilight laughed a little.

"There isn't anything on the outside-" She pushed the inside of the cabinet to reveal a hidden compartment stocked with food. "-but there is something on the inside. I had this put in to prevent Spike's food spree." She grabbed some apples from the compartment.

"Here." Sweetie Belle caught the apple in her hooves and glanced at it for a moment.

Um, Twilight, shouldn't you bring Applejack, or Rainbow Dash, or someone! Even Fluttershy would be a huge help!" Twilight sighed.

"They each have their own things going on, Applejack with applecuk season, Rainbow with her weather duties, Fluttershy and her animals."

"What about Pinkie Pie?" Twilight shuddered with scared Sweetie Belle a bit.

"Although her Pinkie Sense would be helpful, she wouldn't be able to keep this quiet. By the time we reach the Everfree everypony in Ponyville will know. That includes Rarity."

"Oh."

"Before we leave let me grab a couple things." Sweetie Belle glanced at Twilight before looking at her saddlebag.

"Like what?" Twilight trotted into the library and grabbed 3 books off the shelf. She levitated one of them over to Sweetie Belle.

"Beginner Spells and Enchantments? Why do we need this?" Twilight smiled.

"So we can work on your magic of course! Now then, I've got Legends of Equestria and Supernaturals. Anything missing?" Sweetie Belle glanced around one last time and shook her head no.

"I don't think so." Twilight smiled happily and Sweetie Belle in return also smiled.

"Alright then, let's go!"

Without any warning Twilight's horn charged up and started glowing in it's magenta aura. In an instant Sweetie Belle's vision was filled with a white light that temporarily blinded her. She closed her eyes and felt as light as a feather. Every nerve in her body felt like it was pricked and a slight tingling ran through her. In another flash they were in front of the Everfree forest. Twilight was still the same distance from her and looked perfectly fine. Sweetie Belle on the other hand, felt nauseous and galloped over to a bush near the entrance. Twilight looked away from the scene but could hear the various sounds of someone vomiting. Sweetie Belle came back looking better but Twilight still kept her distance in case there was anything left over.

"What did you do?"

"I simply teleported us here." Sweetie Belle put a hoof on her stomach.

"Let's not do that again." Twilight rolled her eyes and turned to face the woodlands before her.

It loomed over them and had an evil essence emanating from it. It seemed to be taunting them to enter, that they couldn't get to the book, that they would ultimately fail. Sweetie Belle came up to Twilight and glanced at the forest, then Twilight, then the forest again. The various sounds coming from the Everfree were intimidating and started to scare Sweetie Belle. They heard a faint roar that belonged to the most terrifying creature in the forest. Sweetie Belle started shaking in her hooves from fear.

"Um, Twilight. I-I don't think this is a good idea."

"Then you can head home, Sweetie Belle." Sweetie Belle stared at Twilight.

"W-What?"

"I said you can go home if you want Sweetie Belle. I'm not forcing you to come with me." Twilight stated calmly.

Sweetie Belle thought about it for a moment before coming to a decision.

"No, I want to find the Solar Journal too." Twilight nodded and began walking into the forest.

Sweetie Belle looked back towards the dirt road leading back into town, then began walking into the forest as well.

Spike walked into the library shortly after the two had left. He had been out helping Rarity like always and was clueless as to where Twilight had gone.

"Twilight! I'm back!" There was no response.

"Twilight? Where are-oh, a note!" Spike picked up the piece of paper on the table and read it.

Spike,

Gone Fishin' with Sweetie Belle. Be back later.

Twilight

"Weird. I didn't even know Twilight liked fishing."

Spike put down the note and walked into the kitchen. He looked up at the open cabinet and saw the food hidden within. He crossed his arms and a grin grew on his face.

"So that's where she hid the food!" Spike didn't feel like making the effort to climb up to grab one of the various snacks.

He waddled back into the lobby and was about to head up to take one of his 7 hour bubble baths when out of the corner of his eye he spotted the open passageway. The torches were still going strong and the books were still scatterd in a pile on the floor. He walked up to the opening and looked inside. The wooden steps lead down deep into the depths of the library. Spike looked away towards the pile of books and sighed.

"Twilight's not gonna like this." Spike grabbed a quill and a scroll and started scribbling down on the paper.

"Dear Princess Celestia."