Smoke Break

Pipe, check. Ashtray, check. Tobacco pouch, double check. Armchair, check. Lamp, check. Magic hat, check. Magic cloak, check. Reading table, check. Coffee mug, double check. "Ye Moste Potente Potions, Elixiri et Concoctions", check. Time to relax, in style!

Twilight put the book down on the table and reverently turned it open. One of the most famous and comprehensive academic works on early alchemy, and original printing too. Really, princess Celestia was sometimes just too kind with her presents. The monetary value of that book alone was probably comparable to the whole of Ponyville in total. Oh well, if she were given such a present, she would enjoy it for all that it`s worth!

To begin enjoying, however, she needed... proper environs. After all, what was the point of reading ancient grimoire if you were not dressed as an ancient wizard? To that end, she put on her magic hat and magic cloak. +3 Wisdom, +3 Insight, +30 Mana! Joking aside, the garments were strangely comfy. She had long ago suspected that maybe ancient wizards knew a thing or two about clothes that just weren`t obvious to... ahem, less magical brethren.

Now, to complete it! Twilight lifted the pipe and tilted the pouch over it, magic funneling the dry leaves and crumbs into it. She shook the pipe until things settled, tamping down the tobacco until it sat in the firehole neatly, but not too dense to block the airflow. Then, with a flick of horn, she sent a spark of fire into it, inhaling deeply through the mouthpiece. Hnnngh!

A time ago, smoke bothered her. A lot, if honest. Coughing, tears, nausea. But apparently, it was just a matter of getting used to it. And being prudent about it. So right now, Twilight had no problem simply inhaling the whole mess and letting it out of her nose a few moments later. If only Spike saw that just now. Hed ask for lessons on "how to dragon", probably. Then again, maybe its for the best he didn`t.

A few more deep drags, and the pipe was burning properly, gentle whisps of smoke roiling under the brim of her hat. Now, she had all that was necessary to enjoy the old text to the fullest. Onwards!

___

Three hours, four pipes and six mugs of coffee later, Twilight leaned back in the chair and groaned. As amusing as the reading was, she was disappointed. Nothing whatsoever in the book have had been unknown to her. If anything, over a half of presented information was in her schoolbooks, and the rest she had ample time to study, practice and surpass during her extended tutelage in Canterlot. Oh, not to disparage the venerable historical text, of course, but at the moment that was all that it was - historic. Still, it was a sweet gesture, even if the book contained nothing new. Then again, if the book did contain something new, chances are this new would be forgotten for a good reason, no?

With a light heart, Twilight closed the book and returned it into the secure cabinet where she kept most valuable and important possessions. It was high time to get back to work, after all. Friendship waits on no pony and all that jazz.