Rainbow Dash flitted silently into the library window, the only thing illuminating it's chamber being the golden rays of the sun shining through the high window of the dome roof. She was beginning to become a tight squeeze. Maybe she should stop bringing so many sweets with her to eat as she read. An odd habit that she developed. But, it was still something that eased her stress. It made reading this one book so fun. Turning to reach back out the window, her shadow obscured most of the library as she grabbed for the basket, dropping it through the window. With a quick reaction, she grabbed the braided handle in her mouth, and began to sink lower, the added weight dragging her down.
Though, it was where she was headed, and it was always cool to look over the vast library.
In truth, as Rainbow Dash had realized, the library was bigger than than the building it sat in. She had made a few measurements on her own, using her hoof steps as a guide, and developed a small system of how many times her wings flapped when she rose. Of course, her measurements have changed, being as she has gained a bit of weight, and she would no longer doubt that the inside was bigger than the outside by now. She had measured it many times, unable to believe it herself. Rainbow Dash hurried through the many rows of shelves, passing cobwebs and even piles of sand as she went further.The sand, she would think, was from somewhere else. It was one thing that the library was bigger on the inside, but...It was another that sand came down from the cracks in the roof.
She stopped, her lungs taking it big gulps of air as she looked along the long shelf. Her book was partially out, still. A smile spread across her lips, and she hurried to the medium-thick book, pulling it down into her basket of sweets. She walked back this time, munching on a cupcake she had stored in the basket. Blueberry, raspberry, wild berry, ruby berry and sapphire berry. The ruby and sapphire berries were an invention of Twilight's own magic. It was originally to make a magical catalyst to reshape and sculpture gemstones, but in the end, the sapphires and rubies were made edible. By Spike's confirmation, they still tasted like the gemstones they were made from, and shortly after, Twilight's new spell went on the market, and gemstone berries seemed to pop up in the more expensive shops. Mainly in Canterlot. Rainbow Dash bit the last of the cupcake from it's wrapper, and tossed the wrapper in the basket just as a loud clang came from the huge golden doors. She'd heard this before, and was nearly caught by the librarian.
They were opening.
Running in between two rows of shelves, she watched from in between the books as the old alicorn slowly made her way in, the heavy gold doors booming shut behind her.
"Ohhh, another day...", the mare sighed.
She was old. Had many wrinkles, faded grey coat and black mane. There were streaks of grey in her manestyle, as Rainbow Dash noted, all along the faded multicolors of the rainbow. Rainbow Dash would think she dyed her hair regularly.
The mare was walking down the rows, checking them each, looking for something. Rainbow Dash stuck her head out to see her a good ways down before hiding again. Taking a breath, and letting it go, she calmed herself before checking again.
The librarian was gone.
Rainbow dash had seen this before, and slunk down a bit as a precaution, backing silently into the row between the two long bookshelves. Her hooves didn't even make a noise.
"Hello."
Rainbow Dash startled, let out a cry, and flew out of the aisle, the basket falling behind her, along with the book. Grabbed by magic, she froze in mid air, a velvet glow clouding around her.
"Oh, I didn't mean to startle you."
Rainbow Dash was released, and she dropped to her hooves, turning around to the alicorn. The magic glow had encompassed the goody basket, and book, replacing the sweets into safety, and holding the book in front of the mare. Rainbow dash couldn't move. No matter what she thought of, it didn't excuse breaking and entering. She had smashed the lattice in, and made it look as if there was never anything there. She hid the pieces in the bushes after retrieving them.
"I remember this one...", the old mare continued.
"Uh..."
The librarian closed the book, and twisted it to the front, looking at the faded title. It had a gem in the cover, which made it look like something valuable to steal, but, Rainbow Dash hoped that she didn't think that.
"What's your name?"
The librarian looked at Rainbow dash. A smile framed in old, gentle features. Could very easily fool Rainbow Dash into giving away her name, and giving herself to the law. Even then, her name could already exceed her, and this mare know exactly who she's talking to.
"Well?"
"Uhm...I...I'm...R...Rainbow Dash."
The old mare relaxed and Looked the Cyan pegasus over, then back at the book. Setting a hoof on the edge, it began turning to dust.
Rainbow Dash let out a small gasp, and lifted a hoof, leaning forward, as if her attempt would save such a wonderful book.
The rest of the book crumbled away, leaving only the gem that was in the cover. the librarian mare let go of her magical hold on it, and it dropped into her hoof. She inspected it forward and back, obviously seeing something that Rainbow dash didn't.
"Did you like the book?"
"I...Didn't get to finish it..."
"I know. It was a good book when I read it, too. But, the way you reacted...You're not here to steal. You're not here for the dangerous weapons that are the books here. May I share something with you?"
Rainbow Dash didn't reply, only stared at the ground.
"Oh, if it means that much to you, then I will give you the book."
"But you turned it to ash!", Rainbow Dash retorted.
The librarian levitated the gem for Rainbow Dash to see.
"My dear, there is more than one way to read a book."
Rainbow Dash wanted to say something in return, tell her that it's all nonsense, but...she wasn't being harsh. If anything, Rainbow Dash has only yelled at an elder alicorn. And Alicorn bloodlines are royal.
"I'm sorry..."
"It is quite alright. Why don't you follow me?", the mare asked.
The librarian seemed to vanish without disturbing even the light, appearing right behind rainbow dash. She set the goody basket on the cyan pegasus' back, and began down the aisles once again, Rainbow Dash in tow.
"Rainbow Dash..."
"Yes?"
"Do you know how this place works magically?"
"Magically? I think I do. I've found that it is bigger on the inside, than the outside."
"That's because you came in the wrong way."
"...What?"
"There is two ways to get into the library. One, is by the stairs that lead down, from in the middle of a desert.", she nodded towards a pile of gathering sand, "And through the top. But that has been covered by sand for three centuries."
"...So...this place is actually in a desert?"
"A desert far away from Equestria to be exact."
"Then where are we?"
"The grand library of eldest knowledge. Every book ever made exists here. Built by Celestia herself for Luna's return, but spells age. Soon, magic turned against the princess, and the only entrance, is through the top of her library. It had moved."
"Moved?"
The librarian stopped in front of the huge golden doors, and turned. "See these doors?"
"Yes. They look like gold."
"They are gold. Solid gold. Gold is the most magically in-tone metal there is. Spells work best with gold. They used to be connected with the castle of the royal pony sisters."
"That...was turned to waste a long time ago."
"I know. I still get the newspaper."
"Newspaper???"
"Newspapers were the only exception. I have a copy of every newspaper ever made."
"Well, if you don't mind me asking, do you know of my mother and father?"
"Now, why would I know them?"
"Because..."
The old mare smiled. "Ah, I remember now, I know exactly what your talking about. But at the same time, even if they were bad ponies, you turned out to be one of the most revered, famous ponies in history. You're Rainbow Dash. Element of Loyalty."
Rainbow Dash looked down. "Loyalty...yeah..."
The librarian looked up at the roof, at the one open window where the lattice were missing. "What were you expecting, when you made your way in here through there? To sneak into the library for a book or two? A good read? I don't mean to tease, but you only did for the secretivity of it, did you not?"
"Yes..."
"I wish to give you the book."
"But how?", Rainbow Dash asked.
The mare set the green gem into a slot on the right door, and it set off blue sparks. Rainbow Dash held a hoof up, but the librarian did not.
"As gate keeper.", she knocked on the door, "I open the gate for those who wish to read their book another way."
The door opened only enough for her to pass through, and she disappeared behind it's giant golden girth. Rainbow Dash hurried in behind her. Inside was the pure abyss itself. Behind her, the door shut loudly, leaving her on an unseen plane in a deep black room. Light cascaded over her and the door, but nothing else. The librarian were there with her. Made her feel that much less afraid.
"This is the hall of doors. As gatekeeper, I watch over this realm. While I am the only one able to call any of the doors into existence...", her horn glowed, pulling an unseen doorway out of the floor. "This place must be protected. It's been an aim for enemies to take hold of before."
"Why? You're the only one with the ability to do anything here. Plus, it's just empty."
"Empty to you. this is the very nexus of all existing gateways into any book. Riches, power, all that exists ina book can be taken into reality through here."
"And you're it's guardian. I understand now. But what does that have to do with me?", Rainbow Dash asked.
"Nothing. It's just good to share interesting things.", the mare opened the new door. It was pitch black beyond. "Go. Your story awaits. Though, I must warn you, a big spoiler of the book itself lies ahead. I don't know if you will be disappointed or not."
"A spoiler? you eman I'ma ctually going to finish the book!"
"No. You're going to become part of the book."
"whoa..."
The librarian chuckled. "Go on."
Rainbow Dash ran through, not even hesitating.
Rainbow Dash were discarded in a realm bathed in golden light. Ruins took up everywhere around her, makign the stone brick look like gold brick of an ancient rich king. A smile played on her face, adn she began exploring. Vines covered everything. Thick vines. Trees hither and thither, piles of rubble, but the palce was surprisingly clean. It looked as if the place were once the sprawl of a mighty castle, and no it's jsut blank. Skeletons were here and there as well. Some from a fight from long ago. If anything, they were in a direct path. All leading out. She tried the other direction as curiosity gathered her attention and caim to a halt.
What stood before her was a very interesting sight. A pile of rubble with a large, golden, decorated pole sticking out. The first thing that came to mind was her hero's personal weapon. It was described as very much like that, but sucha thing could mean anything. After all, Allamses were invincible, with his weapon, he were a god. So, she approached leisurely, a bit of excitement welling inside her, and gave the handle a nudge. Loose enough. So, she pulled it free of the rubble, looked at the opposite end, gasped, then backed away. Can't be. No. not possible. This was Allamses' favored weapon. An emerald-bladed spear. Except the emerald had a massive explosive crack running through it's entirety.
That was Allamses' life force. What kept him immortal and living for over a century. He were a hero in every since who had saved lvies and stopped wars for quite some time. This is where his weapon lies.
Rainbow Dash lifted the weapon with her own hooves, feeling a massive wave of unworthiness and dread wash over her. It almost brought her to tears. then the weapon changed. It slowly melded into something much shorter. The handle were but the length of both her hooves, and the blade lengthened quite aways. Teh cross guard shapped into a magnificently detailed wingset, and the cracks healed themselves. She now held in her hooves a greatsword.
Rainbow Dash remembered a similar event taking place when Allamses stumbled across the sword. Except, he found the rapier plunged into the very heart of it's prvious owner's chest. Rainbow Dash returned to the pile of rubble she'd pulled the weapon from and found the remains of a dead stallion. Time had withered him to broken bones, decaying into dust, and depression hit her ahrd at that moment. He's really dead, and she, his successor. Same as he.
Rainbow approached her weapon where she left it, and picked it up, finding it surprisingly light. She held it by the handle in her mouth, then held it by the blade itself. No amtter how she held it, it felt weightless. Yet, and experimental swing said otherwise. She claeved a wall in twain with one swing as if it were heavier many times over. She hefted it onto it's tip, then grabbed it by the blade center and slowly lifted herself off the ground. Wow, she were light. She did a few acrobatics, then paused, looking her slender form over. Nice. Lost about fifty pounds. Puns of weightloss programs muddled her head for a second before she shook them away, looking for the nearest place she could visit. What better way to continue Allamses' legacy than to do the exact same thing he did. Traveling and saving the day.
That was castle Merrimare. A home to a tyrant that Allamses had recently vowed to kill. Thats where Dash left off, and now she's picking up after his death. Oh, how she wished she could have read through that. It would ahve been sad, but surely, he fought like a god. That was his arch nemesis, an actual demigod, and a bad one at that. The fight must have been grand. That's probably why there is very little rubble left of the remaining castle. Because it was blown away. Rainbow Smiled at that, coming to a slow landing at a pub.
Entering, she found the familiar air of a pub back in Equestria, only more old-day. A bar tender mare, several bar maids, all looking fine, she might add. She had to give them that, they looked nice. Then she approached the bar, throwing a few bits onto the counter top. "Harsh."
"The tool of Allamses!", the bar maid said aloud. Enough to where everyone in the bar looked directly at her. Immediately, nearly everyone there stood, each and every one of them clad in armor and armed with a weapon each. "You're outnumbered!", the bar mare slammed a hoof on the counter. "Drop the sword and you won't get hurt."
Instead, she bolted out the door. Much too fast for anyone else to try to grab her, and she was immedaitely in the air once sunlight hit her face. A good distance up, she glanced back behind herself as armored ponies filed out of the pub, spreading their wings to take off. Unicorns and earth ponies simply followed on hoof, and incredibly easy, given the speed they were flying at.
The first soldier to get close to Rainbow Dash felt the literal razor age of her blade, adn she sent the stallio plummeting to his doom, made a small yelp of fear, then turned around, pumping her wings harder, trying to get up theright amount of speed, climbing all the way. With one sharp turn, she aimed straight down. One way to escape this chase is hyper sonic flight, and while she'd leave her mark for the next few hundred kilometers, she'd still be able to get away safely. Thre seconds. Six seconds. Nine seconds. She count increments of three as each pattern of wind baffeted her, resisting her the entire way there. Finally, that slingshot barrier came into play, and she aimed the tip of her sword forward, shattering it with relative is, locked her wings fanned open, and glided forward much too fast for anyone to follow. Every wingbeat was an incredibly powerful boost of speed, she kept light flaps and paced ehrself, not wanting to exhaust her ability to keep up this speed, and far ahead, she finally came to astop. She were in what had to be another kingdom by now, with no name or location of the previous, save for the long line of briliant rainbow colors left in her wake. She landed and took off into the castle, not even caring to appease the onlookers who were mesmerized by the beautiful, amazing display.
It wasn't until at the top of the castle steps did she come to a halt, dreading the pain in her legs, and keeping a wary eye out. She stared down multiple guards that were there, waiting to see if anyone would recognize her sword like the previous group she ran into. Approaching one, she asked if he knew what weapon it was she wielded. He replied that he did not. And so, she rested on the steps. Blade under one fore leg, gazing at the sun as it rose slowly.
"Hello there."
Rainbow Dash leapt forward into the air, putting distance between her and this new pony. Then slowly backwinged back onto the steps.
"Sorry, did I scare you?", he asked
"Actually, I almost hit you."
"Whoa. Why?"
"I was recently attacked, and I'm...actually kind of disappointed because of it.", she looked where her rainbow path were still standing. "Nonetheless, I can't be too cautious."
"Why, what happened?"
"Do you know what this weapon is?", she asked.
"No, why?"
"Best to keep it that way. What brings you here?"
"Alright then. Well, I noticed you were sitting alone, and I thought I'd give you company.", he sat beside her.
Rainbow Dash sighed. "I'm not complaining. But I do need to figure something out."
"For what?", he asked.
"You ask a lot of questions."
"I'm a curious stallion."
"I need to find a purpose. I want to follow in my hero's hoofsteps, but first, I need to figure out for my first lifetime."
"O...kay. Wish I could help you."
"So what do you do?", Rainbow Dash asked.
"Hmm?"
"What do you do?"
"Oh. I don't do anything. I'm rich and lazy, so I look for things to do."
"You don't sound like a snob, though."
"That's good. I don't flaunt my money, nor do I treat others below me. A happy day with no fights is a good day."
"Sounds a bit like a disappointing way to live."
"Well, if you live by that only. However, I do, unfortunately. Just wish that I could do something. Anything that would require time and effort. Grit, if need be, even."
"What about fighting by my side?", Rainbow Dash asked.
"I'm not sure. That was completely random."
"Well. I have to figure something out, and I'm going to do it by fighting. I guess I'll take up Allamses's legacy. Be his successor."
"Allamses? You mean the legnd that died out about two centuries ago? He's such a hero."
"Him and his emeral bladed spear."
The stallion nodded chuckling lowly, then paused, sizing up her sword. "Is that..."
"Allamses's weapon? Yeah it is.", Rainbow Dash said smugly.
"You should destroy it."
"No!", Rainbow Dash backed away swiftly, brandishing the weapon.
"The neighboring kingdoms are all looking for that weapon. It's intense power, it's invulnerability. Such a weapon would only bring destruction. I've heard so much about it being this grand treasure, that it's beginning to sicken me."
"Well, I'm not giving it up."
"That's your choice. You're just going to have your hands full wherever you go."
Rainbow Dash looked at her rainbow trail. Still solid as a rock in the town square far below. "I think I may have started a war."
"With who?", the stallion asked.
"I fled at hypersonic speed. See that rainbow line down there?", she pointed to the thick multicolor line. "Once I hit the speed of sound, I shatter the sound barrier, creating a sonic rainboom. That right there is a direct trail from where I was running from and escaped a group of armored individuals, leading straight to this castle's doorstep. They were after Allamses's sword. If they want it bad enough, they'll wage war over it."
"I get what you're saying."
Rainbow Dash sighed. There is a very high chance that an army would literaly show up here at this castle. She could stay to fight, help them, or leave and not be found. One way, he'd be a hero. She could help people. Another, she could hide and not be found. It'd give her an advantage by not being possible to track. The sword would be safe. Assassins and thieves wouldn't be able to get it. She can't fend off poisons.
"I'm not staying here. I ahve to leave.", Rainbow Dash decided.
The stallion simply gazed at her. It didn't change from the moment before.
"You're not going to tell me I should stay and fight? Not going to tell me I'm a bad mare for running away?", Rainbow Dash asked.
"Seems I don't have to."
Rainbow turned, huffing. She did catch herself with that one.
"That decision is yours alone. Stay or flee. You don't have to fight this fight. You didn't hurt anyone on purpose to cause it."
"That's assuming that a war is started over this."
"You came from the southeast. Where our neighboring kingdom lies. That neighboring kingdom is vicious and ruthless. They are a war nation, and we haven't been swallowed by their armies because we are a good point of trade and commerce. They benefit more from us through trade. We have no real defenses, our army is not that great. We'll have an army at our doorstep, and we won't be able to do anything about it. The only thing we can hope for is that they choose to discuss surrender instead of just leveling our city."
"Who are you?", she asked.
"I'm the king, of course."
"The king of this kingdom."
"Indeed."
Rainbow Dash sighed. "I'm sorry. I wish there were mroe kings like you."
"I'm not king worthy material. I inherited the crown and simply worked on smart tactics of diplomacy and trade. We have, literally, castle guards and nothing more."
"That's..."
"The end of my kingdom.", he sighed. "May as well try my best to offer surrender befor his troops roll into my lands."
"But..you're so suave, your'e so nice, smart, even. Thi world is a book. It really is! If that makes no sense to you, then I'm alright witht hat, but...the goo guys always win. Someone saves the day, someone helps you."
"I advise you simply leave. My kingdom is always open to you and any other travler. But if I can keep the tool of Allamses out of the hands of the corrupt, I'd rather take action to make that so. Fly north. There is a castle directly due north. Fly east then north again until you see snow. That's th winter line. No snow before, only snow after. Once you get there, follow the Winter Line until you come across another castle. The castle of the monks. No one bothers them, you could live with them there. Until you find your purpose of course."
Rainbow Dash hung her head in shame. "I...thank you. I just wish I could help you, but I don't know how to fight. And I...I just..."
"Whats your name?", he asked.
"Rainbow Dash."
"Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash, you left on y doorstep a beautiful sight. Literally. I've never seen anything like it. It's magical, even. You brought something new to my life and I do feel inspried. So, I'll help you. Which is why I'm telling you where to go. The monks are your greatest ally right now, even if they've never met or seen you before."
Rainbow Dahs swallowed. "Allamses spent time with the monks for a time of peace. He trained, despite his vow to them to be a peaceful stallion. The monks know I'm coming. They know that there is going to be a successor to everyone who wields this weapon."
"Then you have a family waiting for you."
Rainbow Dash held back a muffled whine. Then spread he rwings for flight. "I'm going. I won't look back, I won't return. Ill go to the monks, I'll live there."
"Thank you Dash, for doing the right thing."
"How is it right?"
He didn't reply. Simply smiled and walked off. Rainbow Dash bolted. Leaving the castle. She idn't want to, but she did. She cried. Just this once. For a kingdom. For the innocent. This is not something Allamses would do.
After a few minutes, Rainbow Dash didn't want to fly anymore. She had made good progress away from teh castle, overlooking it from the raised land. She just wanted to stop and not od anything. So she did. She landed next to a tree, cut down the bushes around it to make bedding, angrily at that, then laid down on her side, curling up.
And she stayed htere. Time passed b, her tears dried, yet she lay there. Even as her stomach began to ache for food, she ignored it. Yet evn as she realized she were ignoring hunger, she made herself sit up. She would get nothing done by moping about. And it's all because of a sword? a weapon. A tool of great destruciton, but sitll, a weapon? Rainbow Dash didn't need it. She doesnt' need to fight, she can leave it. So, she picked the blade up, entering the forest even further. Up a hill, a large one at that, and just a few steps onto the level ground she turned around. North of the castle. She put the blade tip to teh ground, then drove it even.
What's odd is that she felt as if the blade were sad to see her leave and give up. Rainbow Dash recaled Allamses giving his weapon the right to it's sentiency. It's definitely more thna just a sword. And Rainbow Dash saw it as a person, actually. Same as Allamses. In the distance, as she focused beyond the blade a the castle as troops began roling in. So early. They ahd to have been running across the land for the past few hours. Fliers were already assaulting the castle.
Rainbow desperately wanted to make a difference. To take this sword and end the fight herself, win the fight for the king. Save them. She could do it by just swinging the sword and calling upon it's very own magic. She could literally throw them off the wall from the castle steps. But if she simply left it here, no one would find it. Hidden in plain sight. Eventually, her successor would find it, though. He or she would take it.
If she were so reluctant to leave this blade here and not fight, then why not fight? She wants to. She absolutely can make a difference. So, she grabbed that sword, bolting into the air. Right off the first wingbeat, she felt the electricity roll off her wings. And that sword filled her with pride. Pride she knew was coming from her doing this isntead of fleeing.
She made it to the castle top steps in seconds and lashed out at anything not decorated in those familiar armors. One after the other, swing after swing, she just threw them away, even cut down a battalion of fying troops as the came in to land. Then hurried inside. The fighting was equally there too. She tried saving as many as she could on ehr way to the throne room, then came to a halt, just as a well decorated stallion drove his own sword throught eh chest of the king. She ended him. Impaled that stallion with her own blade as if it were a javelin. Threw it perfectly. Within a flash, she were already retrieving her balde and cut down the remainder of the troops inside. She looked towards the downed king jsut as he held his crown to her. "For you."
She sighed, dropping her blade and approachign his lifeless form. She grabbed the blade in his chest with one hoof, and set the other on hsi chest, pulling it free. She laid the king to rest, closed his eyes, and wrappe him in his regalia before standing, rtrieving her sword. She failed anyway. The attacking kingdom would find their king dead, but this king has also perished.
"She killed the king!", one of the approaching soldiers shouted. Not of this kigndom. She brandished her blade, even swayed it's edge into the marble floor.
"Do you want to fight me? Do you know what blade I wield?"
None advanced.
"With but a swing of this sword, I cna end you. I don't need to connect the hit with you, I don't need to move, I can kill you from where Is tand, so bow before me! Or perish."
And so, after a glance at their own dead king, they stood stock still. Rainbow Dash planted one wide swing behind her, gashing open their king's corpse and throwing blood over the throne room walls.
"Bow before me!"
Through fear, she achieved her goal. Each and every soldier of the enmy's nation slowly knelt before her. She swallowed hard. Then grabbed both crowns of each king.
"I will return. For this kingdom and your own. If your queen thinks that she rules you now, you can tell her she is mistaken. If she wants the crown, she can fight me for it. Elsewise, you bow to me and me only.", she set each on her sides, tethering them there before taking off into the air once again. And from there, North. She'd find the monks.
