Droplet of Time

The Castle of Friendship was a beautiful structure. It's crystal walls gave off a soft light as it reflected the sunlight, and it's intricate design often made the townsponies stop and stare in awe. Twilight had made a small library for the public in the castle, and the breathtaking interior along with the normally quiet and calm atmosphere made it an optimal place for the ponies to simply relax and read.

Crash!

A frustrated shout quickly accompanied the noise, as the "History of Equs : Volume 1"  was hurled to the other end of the library.

Today was not one of those times.

Twilight was alone in the small library. She had been researching on certain topics and the books she had gone through refused to tell her the information she wanted. She grabbed the next volume of "History of Equs" and quickly hoofed through the pages. As the pages flipped by, a certain page caught her eye and she began to read from the book.

The Camels

The Camels were one of the dominant races of the early stages of civilization.

Their Empire (Believed to be located in the current Barren Wastelands) thrived for over a thousand years with the other civilizations of the Ancient Era.

Artifacts from the era proves that the Camels were the first creatures to effectively channel magic and use it to their needs. The Camels were immensly powerful in their magic, as the average Camel could use magic over 20 times stronger than the Equestrian unicorn. The reason to this unbalance is still unknown.

The Camels also had customs such as-

"Nonononono!" Twilight muttered as she furiously flipped over the unimportant details.

The Camel Empire met its end around 3000 years after its creation.

Around the time of its end, the Empire had control over the current Barren Wastelands and a part of the current Everfree.

The Camel species also met its extinction around the fall of its empire as the landscape was changed into the vast barren land we see today.

Twilight turned the page.

The reason to this is currently unknown.

"Nnnnrgh!" Twilight slammed the book shut and slid it off the table.

The book landed on the floor with a loud thud.

Rainbow Dash, one of the more frequent guests of the library, trotted in through the door. She had heard the news that the new Daring Do book was out, and she was dying to read it. She stopped in her tracks as she noticed her friend attacking a thick book furiously, the sounds of pages being flipped echoing through the room. A pile of books were on the table, and the floor was strewn with books and discarded manuscripts.

Dash rolled her eyes. No wonder the place was devoid of ponies today. Nopony would want to face a furious demi-god. She picked up several nearby books and trotted to the table, placing the books down. Twilight looked up in surprise.

"Uh.. Rainbow Dash...! Umm... What brings you here?" Twilight asked, anxious to get back to her research.

Rainbow sighed. Twilight could be such an egghead sometimes.

"Well, I was trying to read the next Daring Do novel.. But, it seems you're having some trouble. Anything I can help you with?"

"Uhhm, Not really. I can handle it myself" Twilight smiled weakly. "Thanks for the offer though"

"No prob! Hey, ya still coming to Sugarcube corner later? Pinkie's getting hyped for it y'know"

"Yeah sure, wouldn't miss it for anything!" Twilight grinned.

"Well, then I'd better get going" Rainbow looked around the library and stood in her place awkwardly.

A moment of silence passed.

Rainbow coughed "Uh.. I don't really know where the bo.."

"It's on the second row of the third aisle" Twilight replied, chuckling slightly.

"Thanks, Twilight!" Rainbow remarked, as she flew over to the book she'd wanted.

A rainbow streak soon zoomed out the door, as Spike entered from the kitchen.

"You'd think she'd remember where it was, after coming here a few million times" Spike muttered, carrying a tray of cookies over to his couch.

"Well, we can't remember everything  can we?" Twilight reached over and took a cookie from the tray.

Spike scoffed as he made his way over to his comics. "Well, I think she has a bad memo-"

He gasped as he noticed his Power ponies comic book was gone. "Twilight? Did somepony borrow my comics?"

Twilight laughed. "You're looking in the wrong aisle, dummy"

Spike blushed as he walked over to the next shelf and pulled it out.

"Aww come on, I can't remember everything can I?"

"What are you researching, anyway?" Spike started, eager to change the subject.

"Well, I was trying to find out more about the civilizations of the Pre-Equestria Era"

Twilight motioned to the various books lying on the floor.

"What about them?"

"There's a big mystery here. Almost every single major civilization fell suddenly! Normally there would be signs of the nations weakening gradually, but these nations fell at their highest points!" Twilight exclaimed. "The Draconaqui, Buffalos, Zebras, Camels, Griffons and Centaurs, every single one of them!"

Spike edged away from the ranting alicorn slightly.

"Well, there is one remaining species that had been around since the Ancient Era" He suggested. "Maybe you could go ask 'em"

"What species are you talking abo-"

Spike opened up  "The History of Equs : Volume 3"  to a certain page.

Twilight fell silent.

The Dragons

Believed to have existed from the Ancient Era, these creatures are one of the most ancient creatures currently alive. The Dragons are known for their selfishness and keep hordes of precious gems. This trait had made them hated by most other species and are unwelcome in most countries.

The Dragons tend to have a violent behavior. These monsters have never been a part of any civilization or nation and lack the social skills of doing so.

Because of this they have no culture or history.

A few minutes passed before Twilight spoke up.

"I don't think that's a very good idea, Spike"

Twilight said, her voice trembling slightly.

"I don't think it would be that bad, I could go with y-"

Spike stopped, remembering the last time he had met his own kind.

The encounter hadn't gone well.

"I guess we'll have to try-"

Twilight flipped through the pages of the thick book.

"But, we'll have to find another dragon habitat.. Aaand..There it is!. Firelake Mountain!"

The room was illuminated purple as various books began to fly towards Twilight.

Spike waved his arms wildly. "We're going now?!"

Twilight cocked her head. "Of course! Why not?"

"I thought you had a meeting at Sugarcube corner at.... Uh oh"

"What is it?" asked Twilight.

Spike checked the time and nodded "You should be there right now, actually I think you're a little late"

Twilight gasped as she released the magic, Spike wildly dodging the falling books. She grabbed a cookie and frantically galloped out the door.

"Ohmygoshpackmybagsformespikeseeyoulaterbyeee"

Spike let out a long sigh as he began to pick up the fallen books.

A few minutes passed after a soft creak sounded as the door to the library opened softly. He watched as a surprised earth pony surveyed the messy library. Spike recognized the pony, he had seen her on several occasions, often alone. He hadn't really gotten her name yet.

"Uhm.. I'll come back later?" The mare asked him with a concerned tone. "What happened?" She added, nudging a book.

Spike dusted his hands and casually replied with a wave. "Just a typical alicorn tantrum. Soo, what can I help you with?"

Twilight was in charge of the library, but Spike enjoyed the rare moments when he could greet a customer all by himself.

"I'd like to borrow some books on Changelings" Spike gave her a surprised stare, but soon hurried to get the requested books off the shelves.

It was a odd request, but he wasn't going to hold that against her. He located the last book instantly and walked back carrying the books carefully.

He returned to find the library floor completely devoid of books. Gaping, he looked up as the sky blue mare placed the last of the books in the shelves. He had been sure there wasn't even enough time to pick up the books, much less shelve them. She noticed his stare and looked at him with curious yellow eyes, eyebrow raised.

No, one yellow eye. Spike noticed that she was wearing her mane so that her right eye was hidden from view. It reminded him of Fluttershy’s hair though a lot messier.

She tilted her head slightly, watching Spike more intently.

Spike shook his head and handed the requested books over, She took them in her hooves and put the books in her bag after examining them with a satisfied smile.

Spike rubbed his eyes. Did that bag just open itself on its own? Probably he had stayed up too late reading his comics. He took another good look at the bag and noticed another queer detail. The area below the bag seemed to be shimmering slightly.

"Ahem"

Spike jerked out of his thoughts as the mare coughed. "Uhh..Y..Yes?"

"I noticed that the books lying around were about the ancient times-" Her yellow eye glimmered with a spark of interest. "I take the princess is researching it?"

Taken aback by the unexpected question, it took a few seconds before he replied.

"Yeah, she is"

She reached in her pack and took out a shimmering green emerald, offering it to Spike. Her

eyes traveled around the room as if she had just noticed its beauty.

“Guess I’ll be visiting a lot more”

She turned to leave.

“Uhh, I didn’t quite catch your na-”

“Vapor, Origin Vapor”

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Sugarcube Corner

The doors burst open as Twilight skidded to a stop, panting heavily. Six pairs of eyes landed on her as she made her way over to her friends.

“Sorry” Twilight apologized, taking a seat as Pinkie scooted over.

Pinkie giggled as she motioned to Applejack and Rainbow.

“Paaaay up!”

Both ponies reluctantly gave Pinkie one of their cupcakes. Noticing Twilight’s confused expression, Applejack explained.

“Rainbow and Pinkie and ma self was doin’ a bet on when ya would come, Ah bet 2 minutes”

“I bet 3 minutes!” Rainbow muttered, staring longingly at the cupcake.

“Anai but too mints an thutee sevun se’ons!” Pinkie said through a mouthful of creamy cupcakes. She gulped and added.

“Preeeecisely!”

“And she got it right!” Fluttershy said in a incredulous tone. Pinkie giggled. “Just a Hunch!”

Rainbow turned to Twilight, “How were you even late? I reminded you like, 10 minutes ago!”

“Well, I was caught up in my research so much I didn’t pay attention to the time.” Twilight explained, a blush forming on her cheeks.

“Rainbow did inform us that you were researching something-” Rarity asked as she levitated a slice of cake onto her plate. “I do hope it’s going well”

“Well, I’ll have to visit the Dragons if I want to get more information-”

“Uhh... Ya sure ‘bout tha-”

“Today” Twilight finished.

“What??!” Rainbow yelled.

“Oooh ooh! Can you say that again? I wanna do a spit take!!” Pinkie grabbed a glass.

“Seriously? Today??!” Applejack gestured. “But we ain’t even ready yet!”

“We?” Twilight questioned. Pinkie reached over to ruffle her mane. “Of course, silly! You thought we’d let you go alone?”

“We’d need to make some preparations, dear. For one, I need to groom my mane”

A certain blue pegasus smashed her head into the table, groaning loudly.

“Whaat? It’s sort of a meeting between countries..! I simply cannot allow showing up like a ruffia-” A louder muffled groan was heard as Applejack rolled her eyes. “Ah agree with her point tho, we’ll hafta get a day or two ta prep”

“One day” Twilight stated firmly. “I can’t wait any longer, Do you want me to explain about my research now or la-”

She stopped mid sentence, her eyes fixed on a certain stallion on the other side of the room. He met her gaze for a split second, after looking away quickly, expression displaying guilt.

Twilight continued in a small whisper. “I think we’re being spied on by that gray stallion on the other side”. Pinkie glanced over. “That’s strange, I don’t recognize him. He’s not from Ponyville”

They hushed as another pony, a grassy pegasus mare approached the said stallion. After a few quiet exchanges, the stallion got up and followed the mare outside.

“Ooor that mare, No idea who she is too” Pinkie exclaimed. “You think they’re dangerous?”

Fluttershy shivered. “Oooh.. I don’t like the sound of that”

“Anyhow, that stallion was listening in on us”  Twilight muttered. “I don’t think he came here to spy on us, tho”

“Y’think we said somethin’ to gain his interest?” Applejack mused. “Well, tis not everyday somepony talks about visitin’ the Dragons”

“I guess so-” Twilight was interrupted as Spike ran in through the doors panting heavily.

“Twilight..!..!..Library!..R.Raided..!..!!”