As Twilight opened the door, revealing the home within the tree, Shiera couldn't help but gawk at it for a moment. She had never seen someone make a home inside a tree, let alone a tree big enough for one to do so. It was.....quaint. Their were many books and even a few scrolls that lined the many shelves in the room. Made sense, since this was the library, from what she was told. "So, what do you think? It's not as big or as ornate as the Canterlot Archives, but it's my home and i find it has a very calming atmosphere, which great for reading," Twilight said with a nervous chuckle, but Shiera could detect a hint of pride in her voice.

"It's impressive. A whole library inside of a tree....how bizarre. Clearly this must be the work of magic, though i have never seen it be used like this before..." Shiera replied, exploring the room a little bit more.

"Well, the Golden Oaks Library does have a history steeped in magic. Is there really nothing like this back where you come from?" Twilight asked.

"I'm going to go make us some supper before bedtime." Spike announced, hopping off of Twilight's back and waddling off into another room, which Shiera could only presume was the kitchen.

Shiera turned to Twilight, "Not exactly, no. I have heard of small play houses and shacks that have been built in trees, but nothing like this. Plus, they usually reside upon the branches, not literally inside the tree. At least, from what i've heard."

"So wait, you have never seen a treehouse before?" Twilight asked with her ears perked in curiosity. Shiera frowned, browsing a few books before she replied. "Well, no. Life on a farm, and life in the militia doesn't exactly let one go sight seeing. I mean, i have seen my share of sights abound, but a house, or in this case a library, in a tree simply wasn't one of them."

"Yeah, life as a soldier would keep one pretty occupied, i'd imagine," Twilight replied. Twilight pondered this for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Wait, earlier today mentioned something about Battle Magic....what is that?"

Shiera scanned the room for a moment. "I guess i can give a small demonstration. Don't worry, i won't use anything too destructive. I'd not want to harm any of your books or such. Do not worry, i know how to be careful,"

Twilight gave her an uneasy look, but Shiera proceeded anyway. Shiera took a breath and focused her magic. She felt the odd sensation of magic channeling into her forehead, specifically where her horn was. It seemed here in this world magic had to be channeled via horn to work. How inconvenient. Still, Shiera continued on.
Fire began to appear, slithering around her horn and her right fore-hoof like a snake. It wisped around gently, seemingly ready to strike at any moment. Then with a mere blink, the fire dissipated and the sound of gushing wind could be heard as the air around Shiera's right fore-hoof began to accelerate, and thinned down to a narrow point, becoming a razor's edge. Shiera spotted an apple on the other side of the room. With a single swipe of her hoof, she cleaved in two from where she stood.

The windy blade then turned to mist, and then to water as it began to form a protective ring around Shiera. With another blink, the water turned to ice, forming razor sharp shards, ready for the attack. With but a whim, Shiera then turned the ice into sand, and the sand into earth, and she began to mold it into a decent size stone. With another blink, she released the magic, and the stone fell to the ground with a small clack.

Twilight stood in awe. "I can also do lightning, but that isn't quite safe for indoors," Shiera explained with a chuckle. Suddenly a big grin appeared on Twilight's face. A quill and some paper began to float towards her as she used her levitation magic. "Ooh! A new form of magic! Yes! Well, it's Elemental Magic at it's core, but still, how did you do that? You made it turn from one element to another and then to another! And with such ease, you didn't seem to struggle at all with it! How did you transmute the matter with such a ease? This magic seems very versatile, i've never seen anything quite like it! Is it based on Starswirl's Theory of Transmutation? Wait, what am i saying, of course it isn't! This is so exciting!"

Shiera took a few steps back, and frowned. "Calm down there. Yes, it's Elemental Magic, but it's specifically designed for combat. It has many applications, many of which i can teach you, if you wish. In return, i'd like to learn that Levitation spell you and the other unicorns are able to do. That, and perhaps a few other spells, if they're useful..."

Twilight's face was beaming with excitement, "Oh my Celestia! Yes! I would love that! it's a deal!" She finally seemed to get a hold of herself, and adjusted her composure and cleared her throat, "I mean, that would be wonderful! I would be happy to teach you some Equestrian Magic in exchange for this Battle Magic. We can start first thing tomorrow!"

Shiera chuckled, "Then it's a deal."

Just then, Spike reentered the room, holding a plate of sandwiches. "I didn't feel like cooking at the moment, so i made us all some Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches! I hope that's okay...."

Twilight smiled, "That fine Spike, i think i could really use a sandwich right about now." She then levitated one over to Shiera, "Want one?"

Shiera nodded, "Yes, thank you." She happily took a bite out of it, and found it to be quite nice. So thus Shiera, Twilight, and Spike enjoyed eating sandwiches whilst making some small talk to help pass the time. When they were finished, Spike poured each of them a glass of milk, to which of them drank down to the last drop.

With a glance out the window, Twilight could see that night had clearly fallen now. "It's time for bed! Here, i'll show you were you will be staying," Twilight said, motioning for Shiera to follow. She led her upstairs and down a small hallway. When she got to the third door on the left, she stopped, and opened it. "Here you go! It's a guest bedroom for when we have guests over. I hope this is okay...."

"It's perfect," Shiera assured. Twilight smiled, "Well then, good night!"

"Goodnight," and with that Twilight closed the door, and Shiera had the room to herself. She took a moment to look around. There a few shelves with various books, but not as many as there were downstairs, thankfully. The bed was a bit surprising. While admittedly not as ornate or as big as the one she had back in the castle in her own world, she was thankful it was not one those hay beds that she had often slept upon while in the militia. If there was one good thing about becoming an Empress, it was having a comfortable bed. Here, she was no Empress, but at least the bed was nice, that's all she needed.

Beside the bed was a small bed-stand with a few candles for light. There was also a quill with some ink, and when she opened the drawer, there was a suitable amount of paper within. Shiera smiled and shut the drawer. She took a seat upon the bed and let out a long sigh.

These past two days had been really bizarre. It....was a lot to take in. Waking up this wacky, colorful, and down right insane world, finding out that somehow she wasn't dead, even though she clearly remembered dying...And then almost being killed by a pink pony with canon....and then encountering a library built inside a tree, it was safe to say that Shiera needed a moment for all this craziness to settle down.

Having this alone time allowed for Shiera's mind to drift, and she found herself reminiscing in her memories. She couldn't help but feel like something important was missing, like there was something she just wasn't remembering, but she couldn't for life of her figure out what it was. After a few long moments of getting nowhere with that, her thoughts began to drift towards that her husband. From the time they first met, to their first sparring session together, to their first kiss, to their marriage, to the seizing of the throne, and finally to his betrayal...

Why did he betray her? Was it something she did? It had to be her fault. Did she fail him in her duties as an Empress? Why did he and Daio Chan betray her? Was it something she said? What did she do wrong? Strangely, she did not feel anger towards either of them. No, it must have been her fault. Diao Chan was her best friend. And Cao Weng was the love of her life. They were the two people she trusted most in the entire world. It had to have been her fault. She must have done something to drive them away....but even though she could remember those last four months before she died as clear as day, she could not figure out what it was.

As Shiera laid back onto the bed, tears began pouring from her eyes as she began to think of him... "Oh, Cao....I miss you....wait for me, okay? I promise that i'll find a way back......someday..." she attempted to wipe a few tears away, but the hole in her heart told her it was futile.

"Goodnight, Cao....i love you...." she finally whispered before crying herself to sleep.

Author's Note

And here we have another chapter. Not sure when the next one will be up, but it will probably be after Thanksgiving, as i just don't see myself having time to write it anytime before hand. Anyways, i hope you enjoyed this chapter, as i had fun writing it. (Though i will admit i did get a little emotional writing that last part...)