The librarian
In
The cloak of Starswirl
In the small study of a not-so-small library, a pony begins to write in a journal, one of History, and Adventure-Loneliness, and Courage-Even of fairy-tales and myths. This is the story of The Librarian, and how he saves the world just about every week, twice on Friday.
The Journal entry reads:
Spring, Celestia’s 1003rd reign. So, today I was promoted from chief scribe and professor of Canterlot’s historical archives- to librarian of Manehattan. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But Silver Quill isn’t that an even worse job?” No, and here’s why: I’m not an ordinary Librarian. I am THE Librarian. "But what's the difference, oh so great and powerful Silver Quill?" Well, throughout history, there has been magic in the world, even more nowadays and especially in Equestria. But, every once in a while, that magic goes into the wrong hands through what we Librarians call artifacts. Artifacts are vessels that contain magic; They’re all the myths and legends and monsters that go bump in the night and every once in a while, people come across these things and try to take over the world for some demented reason. As a Librarian, it is our duty to recover these artifacts so we can keep them from falling into the wrong hands. But if you’re reading this, you already know all that. What you don’t know is how I was chosen to become The Librarian out of thousands of individuals with a gift for history. If I recall, it all began on a Tuesday morning after another botched lecture over at the University of Canterlot…
Our story takes place in a “Magical” apartment in the suburbs of Manehattan. That’s how these stories go, right? Anyway…
With a burst through the front door, Silver Quill came in panting, sweat on his brow, his silver and rugged mane unkempt and messy. “That is the LAST time I hail a cab while in a rush!" He exclaimed to the empty, dust filled air that made up the entryway to his apartment. "He nearly hit two people, not to mention gave some rude remarks after I told him about how the history of cab drivers was a very deadly one, where in medieval days, the recklessness nowadays would have them thrown in the dungeon." His equally white and rugged coat shook from the vulgar gestures the particular Earth Pony driver was giving him near the end of his ride. "Well EXCUSE ME for trying to give him a bit of knowledge about his job!”
Done with his rant, the frustrated professor looked around his small home. For chief scribe, Quill lived a simple life, regrettably to everyone that knew him. After all, Quill was known for his reputation over in Canterlot as Chief Scribe. Not one historian knew the inner workings of social norms and court interactions that he knew. He could get the stubborn griffins to laugh, and the all so mysterious dragons to open up about their private hoards. His one bedroom, one bathroom apartment was just enough to keep his needs in check, despite all the nagging from his friends and family to "live the noble's life". He had no other things, besides books, silence, and the various degrees and diplomas hung on the small walls of his home. For a scribe and professor, Silver Quill had a lot of degrees, PhDs and certifications. In fact, he held the world record for the pony with the most degrees. After he took off his saddlebag full of scrolls and papers, Silver Quill headed to his study to see if any of his applications for even more degrees were approved. His work study, just opposite of his bedroom was always unorganized. For eccentric ponies, they would call it “Organized Chaos.”
“Being chief scribe of the archives does have its perks when it came to delivering mail!” he thought, perusing his private mail box on the small letter desk buried underneath a plethora of small scrolls, historical documents, treaties that needed his approval, and occasional event invitation received by a noble. His mail was directly sent to him via a magic network that teleported it straight to his study. The nickname young ponies started giving it was “E-Mail”. Wherever they got the E from is anyone’s guess. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Silver Quill sat down, and looked through his mail. “Bill, Bill, oh and look! Another bill…” he muttered sarcastically excited as he was going through his pile of letters. Out of all those, the one buried at the bottom would change his life forever. “Huh, that’s odd. It says it’s from the Manehattan public library. I don’t recall checking out any books from there… Ooh! Maybe it's an approval for Manehattan University to allow me to give another lecture!.” The envelope, although ordinary, opened up to a blank page with gold trim on the edges. He examined the curious page front and back to see if there were any words written, that is, until they started to magically appear on the front of the page:
Greetings, Silver Quill, from the Manehattan Public Library!
It has come to our attention that a position has opened up for a new Librarian, and is in need of a replacement.
If you are interested, please come for an interview in one week from now. We eagerly await your arrival!
Signed,
The Manehattan Public Library
Quill, intrigued by this, decided to clear his schedule one week from now, and finally use those days off he had. Instinctively, he went to his room, and began packing for the trip, honestly excited from the change of pace this would bring.
One week from now…
Silver Quill, still as curious as the week prior, faced the front of the Manehattan Public Library, keen on observing every detail his gold eyes could provide. “Huh, though it’s recorded to have been built in the beginning of Celestia’s Lonely Reign, it looks a lot older than that. The stone ponies in front and the Granite structure of the exterior of the building suggest that it’s at least as old as Pre-Celestial era! But then again, this is Manehattan we’re talking about, so it might be the fashion here.” he said to no one in particular. In all honesty, outside of books and knowledge provided by Canterlot, Quill was clueless to what the outside world really looked like, which set even more determination in his heart to study as much as he can while here. After a deep breath, he entered the building, and was surprised to see the interior was nothing like the exterior. Instead of bland, concrete structures, everything was marble, the only exception being the bookshelves and the leather-backed books that were gently nestled in between the shelves. Quill looked around for a moment, until he spotted a receptionist currently putting a file away. Hoping that she would point the right way, Silver Quill approached the mare.
“Hi! Excuse me, but I’m here for the interview. Silver Quill, I believe you’re expecting me.”
After filing, the receptionist greeted him with a smile. “You must wait in line to see the Chief Executive for the interview.” Shockingly, she had no questions, which brought two options to the stallion's mind: Either A: She's been asked so much that it was routine, or B: She mistook him for somepony else that, although very unlikely, had an interview for a different job on the same site. She then pointed to the long line leading out the door of the library. With a gasp and a dropped jaw, Silver Quill accepted defeat and stepped in line to wait for the interview. Option A it is, then... He thought, with a reluctant sigh.
After hours on hours of waiting, He finally reached the front of the line, when an old Pegasus mare with a blond mane and cream colored coat yelled “Next!” The full-grown stallion that was sent out before him was of sound mind and body when he first went in, but now? Now, he was a sniffling, shaking mess of one.
He swallowed what felt like his heart, and proceeded to walk into the small room. “Hi! My name’s S-”
“We know your name, Silver Quill, and we know why you are here.” The mare said. “My name’s Thrift Bit, and we’ll be interviewing you. Now tell me-” she asked, slowly hunching forward, a serious look in her eyes. It was almost like a hawk. “What do you see in me?”
Quill thought for a moment, wondering if he should be detailed or not. Finally making a decision, he said “Well, judging by the bags under your eyes, you haven’t had any decent sleep in the past week or two, your breath has a slight hint of Celestial Vintage circa 508, indicating that something has either traumatized or stressed you out to where you began a drinking habit and regrettably, drank the whole bottle and ended up forgetting last night. This morning, you tried to brush your hair, but instead ended up having to pull out a few hairs in your mane by force, and then tried to cover it up by brushing it to the side until you realized it’s in no way fixable. On the note of your hair, it has occurred to me that you dyed it recently, indicating that your age is-“
“STOP!” she yelled. Suddenly realizing what he did, Silver Quill took a minute to read the shock, and slight disgust on the mare's face and proceeded to exit the war-zone, when surprisingly, he was stopped by an older stallion with a grey mane, and an even darker shade of grey as his coat that blocked the only known exit, who pointed to Thrift. Slowly, as if caught in a spider's web, and realizing it was too late to escape his fate, he turned his head.
“Where in Equestria do you think you’re going, Mr. Quill?”
“Home. I believed I embarrassed myself for one day. Sorry for your time.” Quill nervously said, as if the words themselves could shatter the old mare he just insulted.
Leering at him the whole time, she got up from her chair, looked him directly in the eye, and asked “Why would you do that? You got the job!” With a look of utter surprise on his face, it took him a few seconds to process the words, until Silver Quill shook her hoof with excitement, possibly worsening the arthritis she might have. “Follow me, Mr. Quill." The old stallion said, his voice bearing strength, but shy all the same. "Let me show you The Library.” As they approached the doorway, Thrift Bit yelled to the other potential interviewees still waiting in that impossibly long line. “You can all go home now! The position has been filled.” This immediately followed with a wave of groans and sighs.
As they were walking towards one section of books that were guarded, Quill was confused at the tour the old stallion was about to give. “I don’t understand, aren’t I working for this Library? She, and the stallion smiled, a knowing look glancing over at each other. “Judson, would you care to explain?” Thrift Bit asked.
The grey stallion nodded, and then began to speak. “I-its not like you’re not working for this library. You are, it’s just you’re working for a much more private part of it. As you know, there’s magic in this world, correct?”
Silver Quill nodded. “Yes, and Unicorns and Alicorns can control and manipulate this magic. It began around the Great Migration of 300-” Judson stopped him before he could continue.
“Well, sometimes this magic can get out of hand.” He explained. When they finally reached the guarded bookshelf, all three ponies stopped. Thrift Bit continued where Judson left off. “This magic can sometimes have an effect on objects, making them what we call vessels.”
“Oh! I read about this! In theory, magic can actually be stored in a vessel for practical use for species that can’t control it, such as Earth Ponies." Quill's muzzle scrunched. "Isn't that a myth?”
They both smiled again. Judson continued, “The-The myths you hear often... Well, they aren't myths. They’re real, including the vessels, which we Librarians call artifacts.” He said.
Thrift pulled a series of books, which caused the shelf to slide open and reveal an elevator. “Step inside, Mr. Quill” she said.
After they were all in the elevator, Thrift pushed the only button on the keypad- Button L. It went down like any other normal elevator did, except the floor counter went to the negative numbers until it reached the designated floor L- home of The Library. They all briefly stepped out, and the two old ponies continued to explain the responsibilities a Librarian has.
“It’s your solemn duty as Librarian to find and recover these artifacts before they end up in dangerous hooves.”
Curious, Silver Quill asked “How so? Is there like a main faction I should be aware of, or-?”
“Th-there have been many ponies in the past that pursued these artifacts for their own personal gain. What was it, a few years back when a show magician stole a magic amulet worn by a power hungry sorcerer, in order to become popular?”
Thrift Bit, recalling the tale, nodded and said “Ah, yes. That was in Ponyville. If I remember correctly, Princess Twilight, just a unicorn back then, tricked her into wearing a doorstop.”
“Hey, didn’t I see her waiting in line as well?” Quill asked.
“Her knowledge in the magic of this world would have proven quite useful, which is my guess as to why she was chosen.” Judson added.
“Speaking of, how did I get my letter? You guys couldn’t have possibly had access to my private E-mail network, could you?”
“W-Well, you see, the thing is Th-the Library chooses the Librarian. That’s how it’s always been. No one is sure quite why.” Judson said.
After walking through a few more hallways, the trio came across the main foyer of The Library. It stretched for what seemed like miles, and every mythological, historical, or forgotten artifact was stored in display cases and bookshelves. There was a soft scent of oak and fresh parchment in the air, giving a sense of wonder to any historian lucky enough to gaze upon it. Suddenly, Silver Quill heard a whistling in the air, heading straight for them.
In the distance, a shape was breezing past the bookshelves with tremendous speed, until a midnight blue scythe appeared in front of Quill. Nervously, and with a sharp and magical blade around his neck, he asked “Is this beauty what I think it is?”
Judson chuckled. “I see Luny wanted to greet you in person!”
“I was right! This is the Lunarian Moon Scythe! Did you know that this scythe helped Princess Luna alongside Princess Celestia in the battle of the Crystal Empire, in pre-Celestial era?” The scythe ringed with approval. The Moon Scythe was a fairly average sized scythe with a blue tint similar to its owner’s coat color. The blade edges glowed with a blue aura. "It is said that one cut from the blade itself will remain with you forever. It also has the ability to create copies of itself to enhance its chances in a fight. A very deadly weapon... It's actually why many ruling countries are still nervous when Princess Luna visits. Ooh, and look over there, that's the..."
After a few minutes of admiration and historical facts, Silver Quill was directed towards the Library Study. “This is the Atrium. When there are interesting events taking place, The Library will place it in this book in the form of one or several news clippings.” Thrift Bit said, as she was pointing to a dusty tome setting on a table. “As a Librarian, you are to take a look at these clippings and discover the artifact responsible.” She continued.
Quill noticed a small notebook on a work desk in the corner of the two story room while thrift Bit was still going on about the book. “What’s that?” he asked.
“Ah, that would be the Librarian’s Logbook, Mr. Quill. It is a historical record of past Librarians’ artifact recoveries. Although encouraged, you do not have to add your own entry.” Thrift explained.
“So, it’s a journal, in other words.”
She sighed with frustration, and then said “Yes, Silver Quill, it’s a journal. Well, I think we covered the basics, so me and Judson will leave you to your thoughts. Oh, and congratulations by the way.”
…And that brings us to this point in my entry. I must say, this whole “Librarian” thing sounds amazing! I can’t wait until I can start recovering artifacts!
Signed,
Silver Quill
Author's Note
Totally re-vamped this chapter from an earlier version I put out. I think this version is a lot more solid, and doesn't feel rushed and sloppy. The other chapters will be republished soon. I'm curious, how do you guys like it?
