A Tale of Fantasia

THUD!

The loud noise had come from something heavy and thick landing violently against the door to Twilight Sparkle’s library. It had done absolutely no damage but it definitely disturbed the slumber of the lilac unicorn, who up until this point had been sleeping soundly, dreaming sweetly of Celestia-knows-what that was causing her to blush slightly. Twilight tossed and turned, not wanting to rise from her comfortable bed but also not wanting to disregard who or what might be waiting outside her front door. Conflicting thoughts aside the librarian unicorn came to the first logical conclusion.

“Spike, could you go see if somepony’s at the door?”

The purple baby dragon, stretching his way out of his small nest-like bed, reluctantly stumbled to his feet and carefully made his way down the stairs still half-asleep. His feet shuffled along the ground as he approached the door, still wondering why he even got up. He reached for the doorknob slowly, gripping it weakly in his exhausted state. As he turned it the sound of each mechanism on the knob was ever so slightly audible to his sleep-dulled senses. The door creaked open, and he glanced around outside at the snow-coated Ponyville seeing nothing of importance. Then, he took notice to what was lying right in front of the door: a rather large tome, bound by leather and decorated with gold letters which spelled out ‘The Legacy of Grimoire Fantasia’.

“Nopony here, Twi,” Spike called out groggily. “Just an old book.”

“Book?!”

With that single word Twilight found herself bounding out of bed and tripping down the stairs, crashing headfirst into a pile of old novels. Spike jumped at the sound of the collision, landing right on top of Twilight in the pile of books.

“You could have just teleported down here, you know,” Spike stated with a yawn.

“No time for that!” Twilight exclaimed jumping up from the pile of books, causing Spike to fall into it in her place. The baby dragon completely disregarded anything else Twilight would do at that point and decided to simply return to his slumber among the dusty old stories.

“Now, let’s see what we have here,” Twilight mused, levitating the book out of the icy embrace of winter and onto a table in the library. After shutting the door with a spark of her horn’s magic, she eyed the mysterious book and to her own surprise, not only was it padlocked, she hadn’t heard of the book or the entity of its title before.

“Grimoire Fantasia? Why haven’t I heard that name before?” she asked to nopony in particular, considering it was barely sunrise and the only other conversation partner she would have had was already snoring underneath volume after volume of his favorite graphic novel: ‘Colt Pilgrim versus Equestria’.

“I need to do some more research on this.”

With that, Twilight was off, searching through book after book for any information regarding this “Grimoire Fantasia”. She went through dozens of different books; from history texts to magic lore...none of which held the name this mysterious tome bore.

“I don’t understand it!” fumed the lilac unicorn. “I’ve been searching for hours, and I can’t find this Fantasia in any book!”

In her utter frustration she glanced out toward the window, noticing that Ponyville was now filled with daily activity.

“I know!” she proclaimed. “I’ll ask my friends! Maybe they could help me find out who or what Grimoire Fantasia is!”

Twilight geared up with her thick winter jacket, boots and scarf and exited the library quietly closing the door behind her as not to wake up Spike. The hustle and bustle of the winter season was prominent in Ponyville today, with the residents going back and forth from shop to shop, picking up various presents and making orders for the holidays winter brings around. The first of her friends she took notice to was Rainbow Dash, who sat on a branch in a nearby tree examining the clouds closely.

“Good morning, Rainbow!” shouted Twilight. The cyan pegasus, caught off guard by her friend’s sudden greeting, fell backwards off the branch and crashed into a bush.

“Uh...oops?”

The rainbow-maned pegasus stumbled out of the bushes, shaking leaves from her mane and tail and standing up straight as if nothing had gone wrong. “I, uh...I meant to do that. Yeah.”

Twilight giggled as she walked over to her friend. “So, what were you doing up there? It didn’t look like you were taking your regular nap.”

“No time to nap today, Twilight!” the pegasus declared proudly as she pointed a single hoof up at the clouds. “I’ve gotta check all the clouds so I know which ones to replace later tonight. We’ve got a big snowstorm coming in around sunset.”

Twilight had almost forgotten about that. This snowstorm was supposed to be the biggest Ponyville, maybe even Equestria, had ever seen. Rainbow was in charge of making sure the clouds over Ponyville were set in place. This was her biggest job yet, and as usual when it came to her weather duties, she didn’t want to leave anything to chance.

“Before I let you get back to that,” Twilight said, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Uh, sure, Twi. Shoot.”

“Would you happen to have heard the name ‘Grimoire Fantasia’ before?”

Almost instantly, Rainbow Dash froze up on the spot. Her entire body began to stiffen to stone, but she managed to start slowly backing away from Twilight.

“Uh...I just remembered, I have to, uh...check the clouds over Sugar Cube Corner! Yeah! Catch ya later, Twilight!”

Before Twilight could say another word, Rainbow was off, leaving her trademark prismatic trail behind her. “That was certainly odd,” Twilight thought aloud. “What about that name could leave Rainbow Dash of all ponies so terrified?”

She shook it off for the moment. “I can’t let it bug me. I’ll go ask somepony else. Maybe they’ll be able to tell me why Rainbow freaked out like that.”

The next closest place for Twilight to go was Rarity’s boutique. As Twilight had known and expected even prior to the holidays, Rarity had gone all out to make her boutique the most beautiful sight in all of Ponyville. Lights were strung up all across the front door, beautiful winter-themed dresses were displayed in the windows, and a large majestic tree stood in the center of the room, lit up wondrously and visible to all who entered the boutique. Twilight knocked on the door, and received a simple one-word yell in reply:

“Comiiiiing!”

In a few moments the door was magically opened by the white unicorn standing just inside, a snug scarf wrapped around her neck.

“Twilight, how wonderful to see you!” exclaimed the fashionista unicorn. “Please, come in! I can’t have you standing out in that wretched cold, even if you are bundled up!”

“Thanks, Rarity,” Twilight said, making her way inside as Rarity shut the door behind her. “But I really can’t stay long. I just had a question to-”

“Just a moment, dear,” Rarity interrupted, wrapping what appeared to be a scarf similar to her own, but in a smaller size, around the neck of her younger sister, Sweetie Belle.

“How does it fit, Sweetie Belle?” she asked.

“It’s really soft and comfy!” Sweetie Belle answered.

“Excellent!” Rarity proclaimed, giggling ecstatically as she carefully lifted the scarf from Sweetie Belle. “I’m finally finished! My Winter Youth line is ready to be shipped off to Canterlot!”

Sweetie Belle began walking up the stairs and Rarity turned back to her bookworm friend, simply smiling. “Now, what was it you needed to ask me, Twilight?” she inquired as she moved the scarf across the room toward a table closer to her register.

“I was wondering,” Twilight managed, “if you’ve ever heard of Grimoire Fantasia?”

Rarity froze up just as Rainbow Dash did, releasing the scarf from her magic’s hold.

“Twilight,” Rarity said flatly. “Where did you hear that name?”

“Uh...it’s on this book that crashed into my door this morning. Why-”

“Twilight, you must simply stop reading those dusty old books,” Rarity interrupted, pushing the lilac unicorn toward the door. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve quite a number of things to take care of before this new line goes out!”

“But Rarity, I-”

“No time to chat!” she shouted, stopping Twilight yet again as she forced her back out into the snow. “I’m very busy! Ta-ta! Ciao! Arrivederci!”

“I just-”

SLAM!

The door crashed closed in Twilight’s face. ‘This is curious,’ she thought to herself. ‘Two of my own friends hear this Grimoire Fantasia name and go into a total panic! I’ve got to get to the bottom of this.’

Twilight’s next stop on her investigation was Sugar Cube Corner where, not to her surprise, Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be seen. Of course, the sweet shop was just as decorated as the boutique. Pinkie Pie did work there, after all. Unlike the boutique however, the lights were based on a theme of baked goods and fit with the holiday treats the Cakes and Pinkie were known for creating: cakes and cupcakes, gingerbread colts and snowmare cookies, and candy trees with frosting frock and gumdrop ornaments. Before Twilight could even think about knocking on the door, a familiar pink blur bolted out of the bakery to greet her, bouncing around the unicorn ecstatically.

“Hiya, Twilight! How are ya? Are you good? I’m feeling fantastic today! I mean it’s not every day we get to bake all these wintry treats! I mean, wouldn’t it be great if we could?”

“Pinkie, I-”

“Oh, you’ve just gotta try my new gingerbread recipe! It’s totally amazing! At least, that’s what the Cakes are saying, but I want everypony’s opinion so I can get it just right!”

“Pinkie, I need to ask-”

“Oh! I’ve also got a new, super-big candy tree recipe I need to try! It’s got gumdrops and candy canes and frosting and all sorts of yummy good things on it and-”

“PINKIE!” Twilight shouted as loud as she could.

Pinkie’s movement came to a fully frozen halt. “Aw, c’mon, Twilight! Reason for the season is to be as super-excited as possible! That and hanging with your super awesome friends all the time!”

“I completely understand, Pinkie,” said Twilight. “I just needed to ask you something. Nopony else has been able to help me with this so far, though.”

“I’ll try my best, Twilight!” Pinkie happily exclaimed.

“Do you know anything about somepony named Grimoire Fantasia?”

Unsurprisingly, Pinkie suddenly froze up.

“Why do you all keep doing that?” Twilight asked. “What’s with this-”

“Oh, would you look at the time!” Pinkie exclaimed nervously. “I’ve got to, uh...plan a party for Dashie!”

“Rainbow Dash’s birthday isn’t for another three months.”

“Uh...G-Gummy! It’s Gummy’s birthday!” she stuttered.

“Gummy’s party was two months ago.”

“Uh...my party! I’m planning my own super-special-secret birthday party! Don’t tell me about it! Bye, Twilight!”

As expected, before Twilight could utter another word, Pinkie Pie had taken off back inside Sugar Cube Corner. ‘This is getting to be really unsettling,’ she thought. ‘That’s three for three. What is it about this Grimoire Fantasia that has my friends so terrified? And for that matter, why doesn’t the name show up in any of my other books?’

Twilight shook this thought for the moment, taking notice to the sun’s steady descent off in the distance, and made her way over to Fluttershy’s cottage. She knew that the shy pegasus was currently tending to a few animals having trouble getting set up for the winter. The outside of her home looked normal but through the window, her fireplace was visibly raging, which is unusual for Fluttershy, and some creature with brown fur could be seen curled up in front of the cozy hearth. Twilight hesitantly knocked on the door, not sure what the furry beast inside may be. A low roar came from inside but the sound of a sweet, consoling voice silenced it as the door opened, revealing the cream-coated pegasus standing in front of what appeared to be a rather large brown bear resting in front of the fire.

“Oh, Twilight! How nice to see you!” Fluttershy exclaimed as loudly as she was capable of, which was fairly quiet. “Please, come in. It’s really cold out there.”

Twilight reluctantly entered, keeping her eyes on the bear. She’d seen that bear before, too. She didn’t remember just where, but she knew him from somewhere.

“Oh, Twilight,” Fluttershy spoke softly, breaking Twilight from her train of thought. “I see you’re a bit nervous seeing a bear in my home.”

Fluttershy calmly walked over to the bear and lightly stroked the top of his head, earning a satisfied grumble from the beast. “Twilight, this is Ivan. Remember when you thought I was hurting that bear that one time during your ‘entire-town-in-total-chaos’ moment? This is the bear.”

“O-oh,” Twilight stuttered with a sigh of relief. “So...it’s safe?”

The pegasus nodded. “He’s a real sweetheart, too,” she added as Ivan lifted his head up, giving Fluttershy a friendly lick on the cheek. “See? He’s perfectly harmless.”

“Uh, Fluttershy, can I ask you something?”

“Of course, Twilight,” Fluttershy replied. “I don’t know how well I can help you since I don’t know as much as you.”

“I was wondering, would you happen to have heard the name Grimoire Fantasia anywhere?”

As if it was an epidemic, Fluttershy froze up on the spot just like all the others. To Twilight’s surprise though, even Ivan buried his face behind his paws in fear.

“Uh...T-twilight...I kinda have some other things to get done, so uh...I need you to leave...if that’s okay with you,” Fluttershy said in a hushed panic.

Twilight sighed. She wasn’t going to be able to press Fluttershy any more, nor did she want to. “Okay. Sorry,” she said, exiting the cottage and closing the door behind her with a quick flash from her horn.

“What is going on around here?” she thought aloud. “Why does everypony know about this Grimoire character but me? And why are they all so terrified of...whatever it is?”

As she pondered this, she continued on back toward her library. Then, it hit her. There was one pony that had to be honest with her no matter what: the one friend she had that would have to tell her the truth, whether she wanted to or not. She didn’t feel right using her own element against her, but she felt she had no choice. She then bolted off toward her next destination: Sweet Apple Acres. If anypony would tell her what was going on, it was Applejack. Celestia’s sun had almost reached the end of its descent, so she would have to be fast. With an increase in speed she managed to arrive just as Applejack was closing the door to the barn. She stopped directly in front of the farmer pony, panting heavily.

“Whoa there, sugarcube. What’s with the runnin’?”

“I need...to ask...you...something,” Twilight answered in between deep breaths. “Nopony else...has been able...to help me.”

“Why, sure ah’ll answer yer question, Twi. Watcha need?”

“I need to know,” she replied, finally breathing normally, “what you know about the name Grimoire Fantasia.”

Unlike the others, Applejack didn’t freeze up on the spot. Not entirely, at least. Her expression shifted to that of horror, to which Twilight sighed.

“Not you too, Applejack.”

“Listen, Twi,” Applejack began. “Ah can’t lie to ya. Ah do know the name yer talkin’ ‘bout.”

“Oh, finally!” Twilight exclaimed in relief.

“But ah’m also bein’ completely honest with ya here when ah say ah’m really not able ta tell ya anythin’ about ‘im.”

“Why?” Twilight simply asked.

“Can’t tell ya much on that either,” Applejack said in reply. “Look, Twi...wherever ya got the name from, just forget about it. That’s a bad place for anypony to go, ‘specially a unicorn such as yerself. Ah ain’t big on magic know-how, but ah reckon there’s still some bad magic revolvin’ ‘round that name.”

Applejack glanced around suspiciously. “Ah gotta get inside, Twi. Big Mac don’t want any of us out in the storm. Just remember what ah said. Don’t look any deeper into that Grimoire feller. It ain’t safe.”

Applejack walked off toward her house, leaving Twilight to head back to her home underneath Luna’s majestic moonlight. Having not discovered enough to help her in figuring out who Grimoire Fantasia is or was, she returned to the library with her head hung low. Spike, who had woken up around midday after Twilight left, had just finished picking up any books the two had knocked over in the morning. He immediately noticed Twilight’s defeated state and slowly crept over to her as she just fell flat onto the floor, not caring enough to get up.

“Twi? You okay?”

“No, I am not okay, Spike,” she replied almost immediately. “I asked all my friends, and almost all of them gave me the same reply. The only one who gave me anything more was Applejack, and she told me to stop looking into this stuff because it was dangerous.”

“So you’re giving up?” Spike asked expectantly.

“Of course not, Spike!” Twilight exclaimed, jumping up off the floor. “Books aren’t dangerous. That’s just ridiculous.”

“Tell that to the dragon that cleaned up pile after pile of the ones you crashed into this morning,” he mumbled under his breath.

“The book can’t be dangerous, but whoever Grimoire Fantasia is or was must be. If only I could find the key to this book...then I could see just who he was.”

“Why don’t you try unlocking it with your magic?” the baby dragon asked. “Don’t you have a spell that can do something like that?”

Twilight’s eyes widened. Of course! How could she have forgotten her endless array of spells? One of them must be able to help in this situation! No words spoken, she bolted up the stairs, knocking over another pile of books that just happened to conveniently topple over on Spike, burying him once again.

“Of course that happened,” he grumbled irritably, rising up and stacking the books back up again one by one. Twilight returned seconds later, this time much more calmly, as she set one of her own books down next to Grimoire Fantasia’s.

“Now, let’s see if I can find it again...”

Twilight magically flipped through the pages, quickly heading to the ‘S’ section of the book.

“Safety Shield, no...Secret Compartment, no...Showtime Sparklers, definitely not. Who am I, Trixie? Ah, here it is! Skeleton Key!”

The page displayed the image of a key designed to look like a pony skull.

“This spell will allow the wielder’s magic to materialize into a semi-physical skeleton key, giving them the ability to open any lock.”

Twilight read the spell over several times before looking back to Grimoire’s book. She concentrated and her magic sparked to life, enveloping the padlock and working into its mechanisms.

“Almost...got it...”

As Twilight felt the lock begin to open a powerful and mysterious force took hold of her magic, launching it back at her, sending her flying across the room and crashing violently into the bookshelves. The sudden sound caused Spike to look up from his work toward the source of the crash where he saw Twilight almost embedded in the bookshelf, her hair slightly burned from a magic backfire of some kind.

“Twilight!” he screamed, rushing over in a panic. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, Spike,” she replied, struggling through the magic-induced pain racking her body. “I didn’t expect that book to have magic protection, though.”

“Maybe you really should call this an unsolved case, Twi,” Spike said, helping Twilight out of the rubble that used to be one of her fantasy-fiction shelves. “You might get hurt even worse if you keep trying!”

“But I can’t now,” Twilight said, stepping back toward the book. “Now that I know that somepony doesn’t want me to read this book, I have to find out what’s inside!”

“But you can’t open it without the key!” Spike exclaimed. “And you can’t open it with magic! How are you gonna-”

Three knocks on the library door interrupted their dialog. Who would be coming to the library this late at night? Hesitant, Twilight walked to the door and carefully opened it with a violet aura of arcane energy revealing a familiar light azure unicorn with a wand spreading a wave of magic dust as her cutie mark.

“As much as she does not want to, the Great and Powerful Trixie believes she may be able to assist you.”