The Burdens Of Alicornhood

        Time corrected itself, ending with Twilight falling face first into the stone.  Her head throbbed from the fall and the rush of information concerning the library and her new position.  She now knew how to cast the spell that completely stopped time and placed her soul in the library and realm of souls.

         Twilight herself still needed to check out this new source of information that held the very lives of ponies that have gone by.  It also allowed her to research lost secrets of Equestria and things that hardly anypony in Equus knows about.  In all actuality, there wouldn't be a single thing she didn't know about.  It was ultimately the entire world in her hooves.  And just when she believed she had enough problems.

         "Twilight, are you okay?" Asked Celestia, putting a hoof on the young alicorns shoulder.  Twilight went through the new information in her head and smiled.

         "Yes, I'm perfectly fine."

Bring them here.  Twilight's eyes widened as a familiar voice rang through her head.

Faust?  How are you talking to me?  I thought you were stuck in the library of souls, about to pass on. said Twilight.  There was a mental sigh.

I still have some time, Twilight.  I still need to teach you the ways of the library, but right now, I think my daughters need to know.  Twilight gave a mental nod.  In an instant, she somehow knew how to take multiple souls with her to the library.  Realizing she had been sitting there  staring off into space and worrying the others, Twilight looked up at Celestia and Luna.

          "Somepony wants to speak with you." Twilight said, gesturing for them to sit.  The sisters looked at each other for a moment until sitting across from the lavender alicorn.  Taking a deep breath, Twilight channeled her magic into the spell that would send her to the library, she then stretched it out so it encompassed the two sisters as well.  After making sure all three of them were ready, she sent their souls off in a bright flash.

                                                                                          ~~~~~~~~~~~

           The three alicorns stood at the steps of a golden library, the pillars holding up the awning to the library were covered in lush green vines that sprouted out of the clouds.  Twilight took in the sight with a smile while the two sisters gaped at it.  Twilight turned her head back to the golden double doors.

            "You are going to have to show me the way, master." she said calmly.  The doors opened and a spectral of golden light appeared.  It was a formless sphere that Twilight had no doubt was Faust's way of guiding them.

            "Twilight, where are we and how did we get here?" Asked Celestia, looking around at the bookshelves that were laden with numerous tomes.  Some thick, some thin.  Each beheld a name and, on occasion, a rune that depicted which in the bloodline they were.

            "This is the library of souls.  Only two have ever roamed its halls, I am one.  As for how we got here, I used a spell only two ponies know, I being one of them again.  The second pony has requested your audience, thus I brought you here." said Twilight, keeping her eye on the golden sphere as it hummed its acceptance to her explanation.

            "Who is this other pony, Twilight?" Asked Luna, eyeing the young alicorn.

            "I have a feeling that you will know when you see them."  The three of them walked for another few minutes before coming to another pair of doors.  Engraved into the doors was a sun and moon, almost identical to the sister's own cutie marks.  The sphere faded away into nothingness, signaling their arrival.  Taking a deep breath, Twilight placed a hoof on the door and pushed it open.

             "Thank you, Twilight.  Oh, and nice use of master.  It's a new title for me."  Celestia and Luna froze as they heard the oh so familiar voice.  As the doors finished opening, they revealed a white alicorn with a red mane and tail sitting at the table in the very center.  Four thick tomes sat on the table.  Each one had a cutie mark on it.  One of the four was open and floating in front of the mare.

            "M-mother?" Asked Celestia weakly.  The white mare turned and smiled warmly at the two.

             "It had been a few years, hasn't it?"  Faust laughed brightly as she was embraced by the two mares, who were now crying as they held their dead mother.

           "We thought you were dead." said Luna through her sobs.

           "And I am.  The reason you are here is because I have chosen a successor to the library so I can finally rest my old soul and sit upon my own shelf." said Faust, stroking the manes of both of her daughters.  Twilight sat off in the corner as she watched the three.

Explore your new domain, dear Twilight.  I need to have a talk with my daughters. said Faust over their mental connection, looking up at the alicorn slightly.  Twilight nodded and slipped out of the room, closing the golden doors as quietly as physically possible.

          Taking a deep breath, ventured through the bookshelves of the library.  She soon found that over the centuries, Faust has been busy collecting each scrap of knowledge and history into books all of their own.  No doubt from reading the lives of multiple ponies.

          There was forgotten theories, dead languages, history of events lost in the folds of time, and spells that were complex and unique in nature but never saw the light of day.  It was not only the housing of every soul's history, but the history amd knowledge of Equus itself.

          Twilight nearly drooled over the vast amount of awaiting knowledge for her to indulge herself in, fill her mind until it was numb.  It was Twilight's paradise and she received it without having to die.

          Looking through the history section, Twilight found a familiar topic to her and smiled.  She picked up the book and turned it over to view the cover.  An image of the six elements of harmony.

          Opening to the table of contents, Twilight started to look to see if there were any chapters that touched a topic she was not familiar with.  She didn't have to look far.   She flipped to the first chapter and started reading aloud.

           "The six elements of harmony represent the six traits of each pony that helps keep us balanced and in harmony.  Sometimes, we focus too little or too much on one trait and we become unbalanced and chaotic.  As a result, the elements were created to help keep peace and order.

           "The Great Creator Faust used her magic and crafted each of these elements from a lost stone called Soul Stone.  The only one to have retrieved this stone and knows of its whereabouts is none other than Faust herself.  The Soul Stone was then enhanced to shape to the Cutie Mark of its owner and find its said owner when the time is right.  This pony would be able to uses its powers to keep harmony but can only use it fully when combined with the other five."  Twilight set down the book and stared at In awe.

            "Faust created the elements of harmony?" She asked aloud to no one.  It was a wonder how only a handful knew, and according to Celestia and Luna, they were just as clueless.

            The Great Creator Faust.  It was an odd title that made so much sense now.  She created some of the most magical artifacts in Equus and her talent wasn't even magic.  If there was an all powerful alicorn, it was her most recent mentor.  What kind of a world did she just walk into?

            The sound of an opening door made her close the book and return it to its usual spot.  She turned around to see Faust and her two daughters exiting the golden room.  Celestia and Luna had their heads leaning on the eldest mares shoulders.  Faust seemed unfazed by the awkward weight on her shoulders and walked towards Twilight who had climbed down her previous bookshelf down to the floor.

            "Thank you, Twilight, for that much needed talk." said Faust.  Twilight nodded.

            "Of course.  It was nothing." said the young alicorn with a smile.  Faust smiled back then turned to her daughters.

            "I have to show my student one quick thing about the library, then you may leave." said the mighty alicorn.  They said nothing but nodded.  Faust motioned for Twilight to follow her back into the room she had previously left.  All for tomes were close and sitting on their pedestals when they entered.

             "This, Twilight, is the hall of alicorns." said Faust as the doors shut behind them.  "This is where all four alicorns have their soul tomes.  Mine is not present since I have yet to truly die.  Once I have, all of my knowledge, memories, and dreams will be sealed into a single, thick tome and sit among the others."  Taking this moment to examine the four present tomes, Twilight saw that each one beared the cutie mark of the four living alicorns, herself being one of them.

             Each tome was thick, including her own despite her young age.  Twilight cocked her head at her own tome, confused by its already thick pages.  Faust saw this and chuckled.

            "Dear Twilight, did you expect a thin novel after all you have gone through and accomplished?" Asked Faust.

           "It's just that it's over half the size of the others.  I'm only twemty-five and they are over a thousand.  I just don't see how this is possible." said Twilight, shaking her head.

           "Many things are possible in this realm.  Now, I believe its time for you to return to your realm.  I presume you know how?"

           "I would be surprised if I didn't." said Twilight, walking towards the door.  Faust giggled and watched as Twilight left and closed the door behind her.  She levitated the tome she had earlier, the name Twilight Sparkle adorning its cover.  She opened to the page she was on earlier and grabbed her quill.

            The quill scratched along the books surface for several paragraphs as it shaped the young alicorns future.  Once it was shaped to her satisfactory for the next three months, Faust sat down the quill and reviewed her work.

             "You have a long, rough life ahead of you, my dear Twilight."