Echo-4882

“By the gods, does she ever shut up?” I thought as I clutched my head in a vague attempt to block the inane drone come from the unicorn. As soon as I said that I was looking for books to do with recent history, she went on a massive tangent about various books, most of which I had never heard of.

Apparently not noticing my obvious torment, she had continued to lecture about these books for a solid hour.

“Ahem- Twilight, I really would love to sit here for another hour and listen to you explaining the ins and outs of 'The History of Starswirl the Bearded, Volume 16', but I really do need those books I came here for.”

My voice was apparently enough to snap her out of her mindset and it took a few moments before she finally blushed in embarrassment and promptly apologised.

“Oh, um... sorry about that, I don't often get the opportunity to talk about Starswirl to other ponies and I guess I got carried away, what was it that you where looking for again?”

'Finally, some progress' I thought before replying, “I need any and all books on recent history. Preferably ones that go over massive events. I need them for... uh, research. For school.”

I know that I could have asked a bit less... suspiciously, but I couldn't concentrate on anything for the previous hour and so I had not come up with a good reason as to why I actually needed them.

Twilight didn't seem to pick up on it, thankfully, and began moving around the room, gathering various tomes from the bookcases built into the walls.

After a few minutes of searching she finally came back with an impressive pile of books, and placed them on the table in front of me.

“There we go, everything I could find that detailed recent events. If you need any help, feel free to call me over.” She said with a smile before going back to the shelves.

'Okay, here we go.' I thought as I readied myself for the next few hours of reading.

• - - Three and a half hours later - - -

It had taken me hours, but I had finally gone through all of the books I had available to me. Much of it I had already known, but there where a couple of differences. Mostly tame things that didn't mean much but there where a couple of pages in there that caught my eye.

One page detailed that the Changelings where not always an evil race, and had attempted to integrate into pony towns peacefully. However, they where pushed away due to their appearance and fear of their diet. After multiple attempts to reason with the ponies, the hives queen at the time decided that it would be in the hives best interest to move into the Badlands and sneak into towns to harvest what they can. This was a long stretch from what our history books said about the Changelings. Until I had read that book I had though that they where an evil race, bent on world domination. So much so that it had lead to their extermination at the hooves of the Seekers.

The other entries where about wars that I had never seen documented, like the griffon war in which a civil war broke out in the griffon borders and had lasted for nearly fifty years before a peace treaty was signed. Its amazing what historians will do to history sometimes.

A voice broke me out of my thinking and I turned to face the origin of it, not actually hearing what was said.

“Sorry, I didn't quite hear that.” I said when I recognised the face before me to be Twilight.

“I said, are you done with these books? I need to close the library up.” She repeated.

“Is it that late already? I apologise for staying this long, I lost track of time.” I said sheepishly, only now noticing the night sky out of the window.

Twilight giggled before responding, “It's okay, you haven't held me up or anything, and it is wonderful to see a young filly so interested in learning.”

“I'm glad I haven't been a bother, I'll leave now. Thank you for letting me stay.” I said as I hopped off of he chair before starting to head to the door.

“Oh, are you going to be walking home alone? Would you like somepony to come with you?” Twilight asked, I had to admit it was nice to see a pony that cared for strangers like that. However, I couldn't accept it, after all, I didn't have a home in this world.

“I appreciate the offer, Twilight, but I'll be okay.” I said with a smile before stepping out into the night.

“If you're sure you'll be okay then I'll believe you. You be safe now Echo.” She replied. I could tell she wasn't happy with the decision I had made but I needed to get more set up before I start getting into situations that may cause me to give may secrets.

“Goodbye Twilight, I hope to see you again soon.” I said as I turned away and closed the door.

'Now where to go from here?' I thought to myself as I began the walk to the outskirts of the town.

• - A few hours of walking later - - -

Fields spread out before me as I walked, I had begun to grow tired a while before this and the walking had not helped that, but I was confident now that I had found a spot that I could settle. I had learned some building methods in school. Nothing fancy, but enough to go with to build a temporary shelter. The only problem with that is I had no tools.

'Hmm... I really only have two options here. Attempt to find work so I can pay for tools, or try stealing them.' I thought, as I looked at the small area of land I had chosen to be the starting area for my new home.

'Well, to run through both options... I have no skill in anything major, meaning that it would be unlikely that a business would hire me for anything. There is also the matter of me being a filly. Unlike my world, fillies here are required to go to school most days so I wouldn't be able to wander freely without arousing suspicion. If I tried to steal the tools then I could get them with no work required but if somepony saw me stealing then I would have the guard all over me before I could blink...'

I eventually came to the conclusion that I should decide when I can think clearly. My mind was foggy from exhaustion and I was beginning to sway.

After a moment of looking around, I settled under a large tree and closed my eyes. It wasn't comfortable, not by a long stretch, but it provided a small amount of cover from the elements. That would do for now.

It took less than a minute for me to fall asleep.

• - - Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna's room - - -

Luna sighed as she entered her room. The night court was being held off for tonight thanks to what had been happening the last couple of days. A massive amount of unknown energy had been building up until yesterday, when it had spiked before disappearing. The guard where sent to the location that the energy had spiked but came back empty hooved.

'I will never think this through while my mind is this clouded.' She sighed again as she thought to herself.

Turning to her bed she came to the decision to enter the Dreamscape, her realm of dreams where she aided all ponies that suffered from nightmares or other such things while they dream.

It didn't take long for her to enter the realm and it took even less time to realise something was wrong. There was a dream that she had never seen before. This was nothing unusual as ponies came and went quickly through the Dreamscape, but it was the energy emanating from the dream that got her attention. It was almost exactly the same as the energy that she and her sister had detected not even three days ago.

Steeling herself, she entered the dream, prepared to destroy whatever creature had entered this world.

She wasn't ready for what she found.