The Easiest Answer in the World
The sky was a beautiful china blue, with soft, white clouds (cumulus humilis) dotting the horizon. A gentle breeze blew in from the south, promising nothing but more fair weather for the near future. Under a clump of grass, a moth (Actias luna) took shelter from warm summer sun under a shrub (Datura inoxia), green wings quivering in anticipation of the night.
Twilight Sparkle smiled crookedly at the little creature before straightening, pausing to make sure her books hadn't shifted. No, they were still fine, carefully ensconced in her bag.
There was a strange amount of joy in her heart, considering she was outside and away from her safe book fortress. Perhaps it was because she had managed to avoid making eye contact with anypony so far! Still, she needed to hurry back on her way. There was no reason to tempt fate! Besides, she needed to get these books safely back to their shelves right away.
Her train of thought stilled as a soft burst of wind scattered soft petals, swirling her mane gently before moving on to distant lands. Yes, the spontaneous decision to get them herself instead of sending Spike was a good one. Now to get back to her safe place before she stumbled upon anypo--
"There you are, Twilight!"
Twilight Sparkle sucked in a breath and took a hesitant step back as two ponies pranced over to her, their merry grins looking far more like unyielding, gruesome grimaces to her.
The one pony continued, tossing her curly pink mane. "Moondancer is having a little get-together in the west castle courtyard. You wanna come?"
Twilight hoped she was smiling and not standing there agape. "Oh, sorry..." She paused. What where their names? The first said 'Moondancer,' but did that mean the other one was Moondancer or was...?
As her mind raced, the two ponies stared back at her curiously, waiting for her to go on. "...Girls," she compromised. "I've got a lot of studying to catch up on."
The first pony looked like she was going to say something more, so Twilight Sparkle took her chance and raced by them. Dust (aeolian dust, perhaps?) clouding in her wake, she ran at a breakneck pace all the way back to the library, paying little heed to her surroundings.
When she made it to those beautiful solid and sturdy library doors (made of the strongest Anadenanthera colubrina available), Twilight Sparkle bounded into the welcoming darkness with a flourish.
"Ow!"
"Spike?" Twilight jolted sideways, catching her assistant in the stomach (around the duodenum, likely) with an errant hoof. "Spike!"
The little dragon groaned weakly, rubbing his stomach.
"There you are! Quick! We need to get these books back to the fort! And I've got so much to tell!" She pranced off without him. "I talked to somepony today, all by myself. I was super suave and they invited me to a party and I saw my chance and took it!"
Spike raised his brow at her in bemusement when he caught up. "You're going to a party?"
"What? Of course not!" Twilight Sparkle laughed. "Why would I go to a party? Do you know what's at parties?"
"...Other ponies?"
"Other ponies!" she agreed with a vehement stamp of her hoof. "I don't need to surround myself with the likes of... (here, she paused to shudder) other ponies... I'm already surrounded by beings far greater than they! A.K. Yearling! Lauren Foal! C.W. Step! Ah~!"
Spike shook his head dismissively as the mare gestured wildly about the library. "Twilight... You haven't talked to another pony in over two weeks."
"Not true. I just had a complete conversation! Weren't you listening to me?"
"Good work." Spike rolled his eyes. "You've talked to one pony in two weeks."
"Which means I'm good for the next month. Besides, I write letters to Princess Celestia every day."
"Letters don't count, you know."
"They're a completely legitimate form of communication, so I dismiss your criticisms as il-legitimate."
Spike cocked his head, bemused.
"I'm saying that I'm talking with her; it's just through the written word."
"I'm pretty sure that's not healthy thinking..."
"Spike, you're here as my assistant, not as my thinker."
The two bickered good-naturedly all the way to the fort. It was a pretty good fort, at least as book forts go. It was situated between two bookshelves, running all the way to the wall. An ink-stained desk (also made of Anadenanthera colubrina, matching the doors) worked as a secret opening and as a wall to keep any outsiders at bay.
Scurrying inside, Twilight Sparkle flopped onto a soft pile of scavenged seat cushions, window drapery, and old book loan receipts. "Ah! There's really no place like our own Fortenheit 451!"
"I thought we agreed on Fort of the Flies..."
"Oh, Spike..." Twilight said with a dismissive shake of her mane. "Where should these books go, do you think? The western gate or the ballroom roof?"
"Maybe back to the..." Spike paused to glance at top book. "...homoerotic dragon section?" He reached up to grab it and stared at the cover with wide eyes. "Is that Soarin? Isn't he a bit small for... you know...?"
"Spike, try to keep on track, would you? If we don't reinforce the western gate of our fort, then our defenses might be breached! But without a roof, the ballroom is susceptible to the leak that's forming in the roof, which might lead to molding. Do you have any idea how hard Stachybotrys is to remove? There's a reason why we don't go into the basement anymore!"
"I thought that was because of the pipes we broke and resultant gas leak..."
"Sacrifices had to be made!" Twilight Sparkled jabbed a hoof in his direction, dislodging a couple of books from a supporting arch.
"Ah! Watch out, you'll bring this whole deathtrap down on us!"
Twilight scoffed, scooping up the fallen books and sparing the little dragon a withering stare. "It sounds like someone isn't invested enough."
"Not really, no." Spike eyed the way the mare lovingly cradled the books to her cheek.
"Well, we'll just have to work on it until you're like me!"
"No offense, Twilight, but that sounds terrifying."
"No offense, Spike, but you've mispronounced the word 'amazing.'" Twilight flipped through the books to make sure the binding hadn't cracked or any pages accidentally dog-eared. The title of the first one, The Mare in the Moon, caught her eye.
"Mare in the Moon? Isn't that just an old ponies' tale?"
Turning it over, Twilight Sparkle skimmed over the blurb on the back:
The Mare in the Moon, myth from olden pony times.
A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.
"Completely legible!" ~Foal Free Press
"Puts the little ones right to sleep!" ~ Mares Monthly
"Not much inferior to other foals' books!" ~ Bridal Bridle
"I don't remember this one. We'll read it later tonight."
"Don't you mean that I'll be reading it to you later tonight while you do your research?"
Twilight Sparkle smiled. "Well, of course! There's a reason why you're my number one assistant!"
"Twilight, I hate to break it to you, but... I'm literally the only one willing to be your assistant."
"And isn't that the best job security you could hope for?"
Spike rolled his eyes, but dutifully took the book from her.
Silence reigned for a moment as the two repaired to damaged support arch. Once that was complete, Twilight flopped back down on her nest. Ah! This was truly home!
Others might laugh and mock at the book fortress (after all, there was the ballroom was still roofless!), but it was hers. She had discovered the library as a young foal, newly enrolled in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. It was quiet and usually empty, which suited her, and the sunny spots by the great windows provided a great place for Spike (then still quite young) to nap.
It also provided a great location to see Princess Celestia do her work, the windows opening up to the east. When the Princess led the dawn every morning, the entire library would fill with a golden glow. It was during those moments that Twilight Sparkle knew that everything was going to be all right. The night might arrive, but it was always swiftly driven back by the day.
Of course, the same happened during the Summer Sun Celebration, only far better! Plus, being up in the library kept her from being exposed to the masses on the ground. Sure, she was technically supposed to be at Princess Celestia's side during the celebration, but she's also supposed to 'talk to somepony besides Spike at least once per day' and 'leave the fort every day' and 'help ponies find and check out books.' Yet the world hadn't come to ruin when she didn't do any of those things, so skipping out on being part of the celebration was probably just fine too.
If anything, hiding whenever a pony came into the library had worked in her favor! By Leaving them to wander helplessly through the cavernous rooms, their plaintiff queries echoing back at them, the inflow of potential book-borrowers had dropped down to the lowest numbers in since the Great Molasses Flood, over three decades ago. Practically no one came in here anymore, leaving the library to be Twilight Sparkle's domain.
Besides, despite Spike's words, letters were a form of communication; therefore she was talking directly with Princess Celestia every day! Nopony was giving her near the amount of social credit she deserved! In fact, she--
Her pondering was ruined by Spike's coughing over by the foyer.
"Spike? You okay?" Twilight opened one eye. "Do I need to move you to the sickbay?"
The little dragon shook his head and gave one final cough, burping out some blue-green flames. A rolled paper scroll appeared from therein.
Twilight made a face as he unrolled it. "Are you sure that you can't do that some other way?"
He shrugged before clearing his throat and reading the letter aloud. "My dearest, most faithful student Twilight. You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely."
"Mm-hm!" Twilight Sparkle interjected with a smug nod.
"...but you simply must stop reading those dusty old books." Spike paused to give the mare time to gasp in betrayal before continuing. "My dear Twilight, there is more to a young pony's life than studying, so I'm sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year's location: Ponyville. And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends."
Looking up from the scroll, Spike smiled at Twilight Sparkle's upset flailing. "I guess you'll be more social after all."
"But why?" Twilight Sparkle finally fell still, sprawled out on the floor. "Doesn't she know I have lots of friends already?"
"What'd'you mean? You're always surrounded by books."
"Yeah, that's exactly what I said!"
"What'll you do then?" Spike waved the scroll around like a sword, jabbing at unseen foes. "Look on the bright side, Twilight. The Princess arranged for you to stay in a library. Doesn't that make you happy?"
The mare merely groaned.
"You can't just tell her 'no,' can you?"
Twilight Sparkle pondered this for a moment. "Or can I?" She pulled up some writing utensils from the inking room and began dictating aloud to herself.
Dear Princess Celestia, I have thought long and hard about your letter. (Here Spike scoffed: "You only just heard it!") I am always appreciative of your mentoring, but I humbly refuse.
With a resolute nod, she gave it to Spike. "There. That should do it."
"You do know she'll just come and make you go, right?"
Twilight Sparkle took in a long breathe. "Not if we increase our defenses. Come along, Spike. We need to get to the history section to look for books on fortresses and catapults."
Spike groaned. "Are we really going to do this?"
"Brace yourself, Spike. Princess Celestia is coming!"
In the end, the scavenging team was able to collect enough book resources for the reinforcement for all three of the fort's major walls, plus the needed research materials to begin the blueprints for a weaponry room in the far corner against the wall.
After an hour of tense waiting, Twilight Sparkle sent Spike out for a second wave of materials for the beginnings of a second set of defense walls. They even had the plus of small, narrow windows and crawling space to be able to patrol the perimeter without being obvious.
Still, it was all quiet on the western front.
"That's it!" Spike groaned and flopped halfheartedly in the half-finished breakfast nook. "I don't want to do this anymore!"
"What do you mean, Spike?" Twilight Sparkle looked up from her blueprint-making. "Do you want to switch to the third dungeon block?"
"No! I'm hungry! We've been working on this all evening and all night! It's morning now! I want breakfast!"
Twilight Sparkle tried for diplomacy. "You're my number one assistant?"
The little dragon only grunted in response, staring listlessly up at the ceiling.
"Well, I guess it does seem like it's been a while..." She compromised and peeked out through a window to look out into the library. "Though it looks like it's still night to me."
"What?" Spike pushed himself up. "But it's already morning, according to the clock." He hurried over to stare it it bemusedly. "See? It's definitely morning, nearly noon!"
Twilight Sparkle considered the evidence. "It could be broken. There was the historical erotica section avalanche last week, after all."
"I thought that one took out the guest bedroom?"
"No, no, you're remembering the collapse of the paranormal bodice-ripper section."
"Oh." Spike frowned. "I'd like to restate that I think this fort is a deathtrap."
"Duly noted!" Twilight Sparkle grinned. "Now let's get back to work! That'll distract you from your hunger!"
"But I want to eat something now!"
"Why not go into the kitchen?"
"...You know, Twilight, making a room out of cookbooks doesn't make it a kitchen."
Twilight Sparkle tossed her mane dismissively. "Well, I suppose we could take a break. I think there's still some cake leftover in the back offices."
"The fort offices or the library offices?"
"Spike, I would never disrespect books enough to eat on top of them! Imagine how damaging that would be!"
"Yeah, yeah, sorry sorry." Spike waved a claw in her direction as he crawled out the eastern entrance and into the library proper. "Want me to get you anything?"
"Our water supplies need to be replenished!"
"I really don't think a few books'll stop Princess Celestia!" He called back, disappearing in the bookstacks outside the fort's territory.
"I... know that..." Twilight Sparkled harrumphed, curling up on some reclaimed pillows and burying her head under her hoofs. "I'm not stupid, Spike. I know that."
And she did know that.
Even at her strongest, Twilight Sparkle had little doubt Princess Celestia could easily trounce her with just a graceful flick of her horn. And the mare knew that she was acting childishly by refusing the Princess' request, but she had never done so ever before! Wasn't she entitled to a bit of selfishness just this once?
Still, despite her attempts as justification, she was reacting out of guilt. She didn't want this to make Princess Celestia to regret her decision to provide mentorship. Twilight Sparkle didn't want to be removed as a protege! She didn't want to be forced to live back with her parents, who were certainly less understanding of their filly's distaste for all thing social! She just...
Twilight Sparkle just didn't understand why things like 'public speaking,' and 'social presence,' and 'being able to greet others without panicking' were such prized character traits. What ever happened to the morals of foals' books of being an honest pony, being a kind pony, being a loyal, generous, and joyful pony?
For that matter, why was she being persecuted for preferring the written word over conversation with others? Since when was that such a bad thing? It wasn't her fault that her skills lay in research, in solitude! It wasn't as if she couldn't go outside and talk with ponies. She'd had a whole conversation just the other day!
The more she thought about it, the more she was filled with self-righteous anger. It wasn't her fault that she was tending to her strengths! It wasn't as if Princess Celestia was always right. Nopony was, after all. Everyone made mistakes!
"Yes, that's it!" Twilight Sparkle gave herself an approving nod. "This is all just a great big misunderstanding, and when Princess Celestia comes in here, I'll march right up to her and clear everything up and she'll see how I'm right!"
With her new-found resolution, Twilight Sparkle set aside her blueprints for an automated flaming arrow device (there was a store, the Phial and Filly Alchemist Supply, that supposedly carried vast amounts of highly-flammable rock powders! Who knew such things were so readily available?) and went to wait at the front gate for Spike to return from his scavenging mission.
Waiting in the relative safety of the fort's outer wall, she glanced at the high windows (still night) and then at the wall of clocks. Each clock was helpfully adjusted to show the time for all the major cities of Equestria and beyond, though there was a suspiciously empty spot for Canterlot.
It was definitely strange that it was still night, when each and every clock showed a time around mid-morning. Furthermore, each clock seemed to still be in sync with each other. While the reappropriated Canterlot clock could have been wrong (the historical erotica section avalanche had been fairly destructive), it was strange that all the other clocks were all equally wrong yet still in time with each other.
Carefully, Twilight Sparkle crept over to a window and peered outside.
It was dark as pitch and looked strangely slimy, as if the night sky was oozing down to slather the land and damper any and all light. While Canterlot was still fairly well-lit, there were no signs of anything beyond the city's borders. It was as if she were on a lonely island in the middle of an endless black ocean. Even the stars above were in hiding, leaving behind hundreds of little, gaping voids in their absence.
Cold dread welled up from somewhere deep inside herself, as if she needed to run and hide from an unknowable terror that could neither be run nor hidden from. A silly little book fort wouldn't be able to stop it.
Was this how characters in H.P. Lovecrop's work felt? The unyielding knowledge that there was something queer and dangerous approaching? An empty void that watched? Distant figures and forms made of noneuclidean geometry? Something strange and foreign silently creeping up on you and--
"Twilight?"
The mare choked on a breath, spinning around in shock.
"Oh, come on. I'm not that messy." Spike frowned, wiping some frosting from his face. "By the way, there's no more leftover cake."
Twilight Sparkle took a moment to even her breathing before shaking the earlier unease from her mind. "Never mind that now, Spike."
"So what's up?" He wandered over beside her to stare outside. "Super dark."
"It is."
"There wasn't any water stuff left. I'll go out and get some tomorrow."
"It's fine, Spike."
Spike glanced up at the mare for a long moment. "Things all right, Twilight? You're really quiet."
She shook her mane. "Just thinking, Spike. Just thinking."
"If you say so."
Twilight Sparkle let the library fall into silence for a moment before it became too much. "Spike? I want to send a letter for Princess Celestia. Then we'll do another survey of our book reserves for another bedroom."
It wasn't a long letter, mostly one with concern about the current darkness and that she would be looking into the situation herself. Hopefully she sounded more confident via the written word than she really felt.
When there was no immediate response, her confidence (at least what little was there to begin with) faltered and her chest began to be fill with unease.
"Don't get so upset, Twilight." Spike mumbled, his words muffled by the stack of books in his arms. "She's probably just super busy right now."
"Yes, but she's never busy enough to just ignore me!" Twilight Sparkle tried to funnel her anxiety into selecting the right books for a building foundation.
"Well, you kinda disobeyed a direct order."
"Princess Celestia isn't so petty as to act like a child!"
"I'm pretty sure she's not the petty or childish one in this situation..."
"And just what is the supposed to mean?"
Spike expertly caught the book thrown at him, adding it to his pile. "You're the one who goes out of your way to not speak with anyone."
"Oh? Just name one example!"
"Just one? Well, for starters, you've gotten an illegal copy of the castle servant and guard shifts so you can avoid them all!"
"That's just to avoid pointless conversation and confrontation." Twilight scoffed. "Why should the guards care why I'm wanting to speak with Princess Celestia?"
"Twilight, it was in the middle of the night. Also, that's kinda their job."
"Well, I'm very pleased to report that they're exceptionally good at being obnoxious!"
"Twilight, why don't you just admit it: you're a shut-in. You'd do anything to be alone. You're basically an addict."
"It's not an addiction, Spike. It's a commitment."
"A commitment to what, exactly?"
"To Princess Celestia, of course!" Twilight Sparkled stamped a hoof. "I need my alone time to research the information that the Princess needs! My devotion to Princess Celestia is only limited by the chains of my mortal body!"
"And your lack of social-ness," Spike added.
"I already said 'mortal body.'"
The little dragon rolled his eyes. "Twilight, does the phrase 'willful ignorance' mean anything to you?"
"Spike, they have a saying in the Old Country that roughly translates to 'shut uppa ya face.'" Twilight Sparkle retorted. She tossed a couple more books in his general direction, missing by a wide margin. "Now hurry up and let's get back."
"Yeah, yeah..."
The both worked in relative silence, only interrupted by the whisper of shuffling pages and book covers.
Twilight wasn't sure how long they worked, having resolutely decided to avoid looking at any of the clocks. After all, they had proven completely untrustworthy!
"Twilight, can we stop yet?" Spike flopped onto his back, sprawling out on the floor. "I'm tired!"
The mare paused, a book paused mid-lift to the outside balcony of the east wing's new powder room. "Well, it is nighttime."
"Still?" The little dragon huffed, rolling over to curl up on his side. "But it's been dark since forever ago!"
"Nonsense. You're just falling prey to the inherent subjectivity of time." Twilight inserted the book into its proper place before turning to Spike's still form and sighing. "I suppose we could take a break, though. We've gotten a lot done."
"Mmrph..."
"We could open up the reserves, if you want. You know, have a little celebration!"
"Mmnnrfft?"
"Sure. And since you've been such a good assistant, I'll even do the reading this time!"
This seemed to appease the little dragon, who followed Twilight's lead, shuffling beside her as they went into the servant's quarters. She pushed Spike down at the little table in the corner, going into the hall and returning with a couple of items. She set down a small packaged basket of snack foods before him and sat opposite him. Normally she would have blanched at the mere idea of defiling the printed word by eating on top of it, but... these were not normal times, were they?
"Dig in! You've earned it!" Twilight Sparkle lifted the other parcel, a little book. The Mare in the Moon.
"Ishn't da dah bwuhk--"
"Spike, don't talk with your mouth full. I raised you better than that!" She frowned at his boorish behavior. "And to answer your question, yes. I thought now would be the perfect time to metaphorically dig into it."
And so she began from the beginning, opening with the publisher's page and acknowledgements before going into the image glossary and foreword. "...And then there's another blank page and there! We've come to the first page of the story proper!"
Spike merely rolled his eyes and grabbed another tangerine as the mare truly started the myth. As she did, a distinct feeling of unease filled the little room.
"Hey, Twilight?"
"Yes?" The mare marked her place in the book with a hoof. "What is it, Spike?"
"Don't you..." Spike paused, squirming in his seat. "Don't you think that all sounds kinda like now?"
Twilight Sparkle took in a slow breath before setting the book down and staring down at her hooves. "Yes, perhaps a little..."
"Do you think we should send another letter to Princess Celestia? Just in case she didn't get your other letter?"
"Maybe we should. Today is is the thousandth year of the Summer Sun Celebration. That, alongside all the other coincidences, is making me think this isn't just a myth. After all, most legends are based on some sort of truth..." Twilight paused before nodding to herself. "Yes. Spike, get ready to write this down!"
"I've already got everything."
"Good." Twilight cleared her throat before continuing. "My dearest teacher, my continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster!"
"Hold on. Preci... preci..."
"Threshold."
"Threh..."
"Uh, brink? Ugh, that something really bad is about to happen! For you see, the mythical Mare in the Moon is in fact Nightmare Moon, and she's about to return to Equestria, and bring with her eternal night! Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy does not come true. Or, in the event that it has already come to pass, we must find a way to end it! I await your quick response. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."
"Twilight Sparkle. Got it!"
"Great! Send it."
"On it." Spike mimicked a salute and chomped it down.
Twilight was almost feeling better when a strange look came over the little dragon's face. "Spike? Are you all right?"
She watched as, instead of replying, Spike rubbed his throat gently before spatting out the soggy letter with a loud cough.
"What? Why didn't you send it?"
The little dragon hacked a couple more times, slowly wiping the tears from his eyes. "S-sorry Twilight... (cough) I don't know... (hack) what happened...!"
Twilight Sparkle looked at the crumpled, spit-covered scroll, horror beginning to dawn on her face.
"Tw-twilight? Are... are things okay?"
The mare stared worriedly at the little dragon before forcing an awkward grin. "Of course, Spike! It probably means that she's really busy or something! We just need to... look into this matter ourselves!"
"Yeah... I guess we have enough books."
"That's the spirit!" Twilight gestured to the half-empty basket on the table. "Why don't you grab that and we'll have a little research expedition!"
It was still dark as night when they left the relative safety of their book fort, though not even the dead of night was this quiet. Twilight took the lead of their solemn procession through the shadowed book stacks.
"Do you even know what to start with?" Spike's voice was soft and hushed as he stuck to her side.
Twilight could understand why he was whispering. It seemed wrong to disturb the darkness. "The book mentioned "Elements of Harmony," which I know I've heard of from somewhere. So I thought we could look through the archived, unabridged copy of Predictions and Prophecies."
"Okay, Twilight."
The smell of dusty paper grew stronger as they entered the reference section, where few library patrons ever ventured. Dust began to collect on their feet as the two left an obvious trail behind them between the tall bookshelves.
Spike would pause every now and then to wipe the dustbunnies that tried to accumulate between his clawed toes, but could never quite get them all off. Combined with the gloomy darkness and the anxiety that churned in his belly, the little dragon glanced up at the mare.
"Twilight?"
"What is it, Spike?"
"C-could we just go back, maybe?"
Twilight Sparkle frowned, though she looked resolutely ahead. "Why? We're practically... already... there..." She stretched the pauses just long enough so that the sentence ended as they reached their destination. "See? Predictions and Prophecies is right here!"
The mare used her magic to pull it down, opening it up to the middle and flipping to the right page.
"I hope it doesn't do that stupid thing where it doesn't tell you anything important and just says 'see: other thing.'"
Twilight ignored him entirely. "Elements... Elements... E... E... E... Aha! Elements of Harmony, see: Mare in the Moon?"
Spike groaned, smacking his forehead. "That! That's exactly what I hoped it wouldn't do!"
"Well.. I suppose it is just a reference book. It wouldn't have anything but reference things."
"So what now?"
Twilight sighed lightly, returning the book to its place. "I guess now... we could just look elsewhere. I mean, this edition is pretty old, so it wouldn't include any of the newer books."
"Great, so we have to keep looking?"
"It's like they say: half the fun is the thrill of the chase!"
"I'm pretty sure that doesn't apply to end-of-the-world scenarios, Twilight."
Twilight laughed. "Let's just start with the 'E's."
Spike continued to complain as they made their way through the stacks. "E? I thought the library organized its books by author's last name."
"It did. So I fixed it a couple of weeks ago."
"...That would explain all the complaints in the suggestion box."
"There will always be naysayers in the face of progress!" Twilight scoffed as she moved up a row. "Oh, there! The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide."
"Just how many elements are there? That book is super thick!"
"Well, let's see..." Twilight flipped through a few pages. "Spike, begin another letter."
"But what if this one doesn't go through either?"
"We'll just try something else."
"Fine." Spike huffed, but dutifully got out the required implements. "Ready whenever you are..."
"Princess Celestia, I have news to tell. The key to stopping Nightmare Moon are the elements of harmony. There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now the Everfree Forest."
"Everfree Forest? Where's that?"
Twilight thought about it for a moment. "I think it's near Ponyville... Which is where this year's Summer Sun Celebration is being hosted!"
"So we have a place to send this, but how do we... well, send this?"
"We'll have to do something terribly difficult: go outside. If we can make it to the post, there might be some delivery ponies willing to get our letter to the right place."
"In this dark?"
"Well, if their deliveries aren't deterred by snow nor rain nor heat, I can't imagine that the gloom of unending night would make much of a difference."
"I guess that's true enough..."
Twilight Sparkle nodded with a graceful shake of her head. "All right then! Let us be off!"
Or at least, that's what she planned to say if the library hadn't suddenly come under attack.
Both mare and dragon instinctively ducked when something burst in through a window on the upper level, sharp bits of glass spraying inward in a arc. The glass rain fell to the floor, tinkling prettily as they hit the marble.
A sound of surprise and alarm soon followed as a heavy dark shadow fell too, landing before the pair with a pained thud.
"Twilight! Twilight!" Spike babbled, grasping at the mare's mane.
Twilight could only try to shield the baby dragon as the shadowed form stumbled onto four legs. "W-what are you?!"
Her words were met with a wall-eyed stare from the figure. "Ughhhhh....."
"Name yourself!"
"Equestrian Mailmare... at... your service?"
"Is that a question or an answer?" Spike whispered confusedly.
"Are you... a pony?" Twilight stepped tentatively forward. "You're not some creature of the night, are you?"
There was a rustling of feathers as the shadow moved into the faint light, revealing a pale pegasus mare, a delivery pony hat askew on her head. "Is this the Crystal Empire?"
"Er, no? You're in Canterlot."
"Lost again then..." The mare ducked her head in embarrassment.
"Um, are you all right?" Twilight was still unsure of how to respond. The mare hadn't quite yet answered anything she'd asked, but didn't seem outwardly hurt either. Though her eyes were definitely a little crossed. Maybe she needed some medical attention?
The mare perked up. "I just got lost. It happens sometimes with maps!"
"So... you're all right?"
"A mailmare is always all right!"
Twilight paused, not sure if she should really be asking this of someone who just crashed through a glass window. "Right, uh, so... Since you're all right... I know that this is an imposition but could you possibly deliver something?"
The mare's response, a very precise and accurate salute, made Twilight wonder if perhaps the odd responses were pre-crashing-through-a-glass-window quirk. "Everypony knows that whether the obstacle is snow or rain, heat of day or gloom of night, (Here, Twilight couldn't resist nudging Spike's side with a smug grin) I'll make sure your package is delivered on time!"
"Well, it's not really a package, just a letter."
The mare was still for a moment, as if needing the time to slowly process the new information, before posing once more. "Everypony knows that whether the obstacle is snow or rain, heat of day or gloom of night, I'll make sure your letter is delivered on time!"
"Er, yes..." Twilight smiled, feeling her social reserves dip into the negatives. "I, uh, yes."
Spike spared her a glance before stepping to the mailmare and presenting the letter. "Here."
"I'm on the case!"
"Er, thank you? Do you need some, uh, water or something?"
The mailmare was already off the ground, heading to the open window frame. "Don't worry! I'm on the case!"
"That wasn't really the question I asked..." Twilight trailed off, not entirely sure what just happened.
"That was weird."
"That was weird, Spike. That was incredibly weird." Twilight Sparkle clenched her eyes shut before continuing. "You know what... Spike... Let's just get some sleep. After all this, I'm exhausted."
The little dragon responded with a wide, wide yawn.
Morning came normally the next day. Or at least, Twilight Sparkle decided that is was the morning sun that woke her from slumber, even though the clocks firmly said it was mid-afternoon at the earliest. A gentle breeze rustled into the library through the broken glass window above, bringing with it a soft floral scent (perhaps Helianthus annuus?)
She turned to see if Spike was still sleeping, but he was not in his bed. In his place lay a paper scroll. With a curious pause, the mare unrolled it.
Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. I knew you could do it, albeit not in the manner I originally thought.
Though your efforts have led to success, however, I must reprimand you for disobeying my request.
Twilight winced as she thought of her rather childish response. Maybe she should just set this letter down now and pretend it never existed...
I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle shall no longer be my protege, but in place of this I present a new title. From here on out, Twilight Sparkle shall take on a new mission for Equestria as my official Master Referencerian of Canterlot. She must continue to study the magic and prophecies of the land and elsewhere, and report to me her findings.
Twilight let out a breath she didn't remember holding.
Well, that wasn't so bad, was it? It was a little depressing that she would not longer be the Princess' student, but this new job wouldn't be so bad, would it? After all, this would mean she didn't have to leave the library anymore! In fact, she could probably get away with saying her home was the library, what with this new official title!
And, even better, this meant she wouldn't have to go out and 'make friends' or any such nonsense! With a burst of excitement, Twilight continued the letter.
To that end, I expect Twilight Sparkle to assist my new protege as required for the betterment and continued safety of Equestria. Furthermore, Twilight Sparkle is to aid my sister, Princess Luna, in any event as needed.
The mare wilted. No! Now she had to... to... to... to make nice with even more ponies?! Not to mention serving another princess?!
"What did I do to deserve this?" The mare huddled down in the middle of her monstrous book fort. "What did I do~"
"Probably the whole 'disobeying my request' thing?" Spike piped in, crawling into the room, a grain bar held in one clawed hand.
"Be quiet, Spike!" Twilight Sparkle moaned before staring at him suspiciously. "And how did you know the exact wording? Did you read it without permission?"
"If I'm old enough to choke it up, then I'm old enough to read it! Besides, how is it any different than when I read it to you?"
"The latter is a duty, the former is an invasion of privacy! If you keep this up, I'll find a new assistant!"
Spike grinned. "Twilight, I hate to break it to you, but I'm literally the only one willing to be your assistant!"
"Yeah, yeah... Job security."
The two bickered a little, settling back into the comfortable rut.
Outside, the sun rose high above and the citizens of Equestria welcomed the light and warmth of day, though there would be much confusion over exactly what time it was for several more days.
Still, Twilight Sparkle was in her library, and all was right with the world... At least for now.
Who knew what the future would hold?
Author's Note
Will there be more to this? Likely not. :D
Also, if you see a spelling/grammar/similar mistake... I don't care. I cannot even begin to express how much I just utterly and completely *do not care*. So please don't comment about any mistakes or such. I cannot promise to be polite if you do, and I will purposefully not fix the noticed mistake(s) out of pure spite. C:
