Dark Alleys, Bright Hearts

I sit at my table, wearing a dark cloak which Mark lent to me. I sit and wait for everypony else to exit, none of them able to see my form.

Mark wasn’t surprised to hear about the deal the Princesses gave to me. He was joyful when I revealed it to him, though. I earned his trust.

The ponies won’t suspect a thing, anyway. They’ll probably think I’m still on their side, befriending Mark for their purposes.

They’ll try to give me the book in return for being their loyal little lapdog. But I am Queen Chrysalis, and I am no lapdog to any pony.

The final pony leaves the building, locking it up as the guards begin their patrols.

I stand from my table, making no noise and blending into the darkness around me.

I look to the door that leads to the restricted section, seeing a guard standing in front of it.

I shift myself to the size of a roach, and trot closer to the guard. He yawns, and returns to swiveling his head to look for ponies.

I trot up to his hoof, and take out a sleeping potion. I drink the potion, storing it in my saliva. I then kiss his hoof, and smile as he collapses to the ground.

I shift back to my normal sized disguise, and drag him over to the librarian’s desk. I shove him under, and grab a key from his bags.

I trot over to the door, and insert the key. I smile as it unlocks, and I trot in. I close it, and lock it behind me.

The restricted section is dark, the only light being a skylight. The new moon barely lights up anything at all, making the only light in there be the lantern lights of the guards. Said guards stand in specific places, keeping their eyes scanning.

The entire place is full of bookshelves. There is a line of bookshelves in the center of the room, and the walls are covered in bookshelves. There is a spiral staircase leading upwards, to the next five floors. Those floors do not have the central bookshelves, and are instead just walkways hugging the wall bookshelves.

Luckily, I know exactly where the book is.

One of the guards nearby notice the door closing, and trot over to investigate. Once again, I shift into my smaller form, and rush over to him. He reaches the door, and seems to observe it. After a second, he shrugs, “Must have been the wind.”

I kiss his hoof, and he collapses to the ground. I drag him to a dark corner, and continue further into the restricted section.

I stop at the furthest row of bookshelves. I see the light from a guard on the other side.

It would seem the guards have set up a system where there’s a guard at either end of the bookshelves. That way, both sides are covered, and it makes it impossible for anypony to sneak past.

I begin to set into motion, only to pause as I hear a thunk from nearby. I hear a guard shout, “What was that?”

I quickly press against the bookshelf, not moving an inch.

After a minute passes, I look to the other end of the bookshelf.

Halfway down the bookshelf from me is the unconscious body of a guard.

I pause as I hear the guard right around the corner speak, “Who’s there?”

I flash around the corner, placing a kiss on the guard’s cheek before he can spot me. He collapses, and I shove him further into the row.

I smile, and prepare to do the same thing with the next guard. I wait to hear a thunk, and hear a guard shout, “What was that?”

Another thunk, and I look down, seeing the guard unconscious at the end of the bookshelf.

I smirk, and quickly turn the corner, kissing the guard there, and pushing him into the bookshelf row as he passes out.

I prepare to do the same cycle again, only to pause as I hear a guard speaking.

“Come with me, there’s a meeting upstairs.”

“A meeting? I wasn’t told about this.”

“Well, Captain decided there’s a meeting, so there’s a meeting. Only Spear ain’t going.”

“What did Spear do?”

“You mean you didn’t hear? He was caught masturbating to a photo of Celestia’s flank.”

I hear laughter, “So I guess you could say his ‘lower spear’ got some action.”

“Ah, shut it. I know for a fact that you did the same. You’re lucky I didn’t tell the Captain”

The guards start trotting away, “You didn’t tell him because I was willing to share.”

“Yes, and because anything regarding Luna’s flank is rare.”

The two eventually get out of earshot, and I peek around the corner.

I can’t see any lantern light. That means the guards must all be gone.

I slowly move along, until I reach the middle row of bookshelves. I begin to trot down the row, keeping close to the shelf and keeping an eye out for any guards.

I stumble back, however, as I run into something.

I look forward, and see a figure stumbling back from me.

A bipedal figure wearing a black cloak. His hands covered with black gloves, with dark pants and boots, so that no part of his body is shown. His face is even covered up with a dark mask.

We stare at each other for a moment, processing what just happened. I whisper, “Mark?”

He whispers back, “Love?”

I raise an eyebrow, “What are you doing here?”

He motions to the book I’m after, “That. You’re a thief?”

I pause as I hear a shout, “Who’s there?”

I grab the book, and shove it towards him, “Get back to your house, I’ll meet you there. Go, now.”

He nods, and swiftly moves away, before disappearing from view entirely.

I see a light shine itself around me, “You, what’re you doing here?”

I quickly change my disguise, the green flames accompanying it being hidden by my dark cloak. I turn into a pegasus, who is a Celestia lookalike.

I turn around, and do my best to look scared, “Hello? I’m sorry, I passed out in the middle of flying. Where am I?”

The guard looks at me, and I can feel lust radiate off him, “You’re in the restricted section of the Canterlot Archives.”

I gasp, and trot closer to him, “Really? Oh dear, I didn’t mean to wind up here. Isn’t it illegal to be here?”

The guard nods, admiring my form as I move closer, “It is, though I’m sure the judge would understand your situation.”

I get right up next to him, “Judge? Oh no, I can’t go to court. It would ruin my career.” I grin, and kiss his cheek, “Maybe I could convince this big and strong guard to overlook this?”

He shakes his head, “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

I smirk, and let my cloak fall to the ground. I turn my flank to him, “Really? Not even for this?”

He pauses, “Well, I might need to do a closer search in order to make sure you didn’t steal anything. But then I can probably overlook it.”

I shake my flank, “Well, go ahead and search.”