Amethyst Maresbury, The Crystal Empire’s beloved local librarian methodically searches her library’s shelves for an unregistered scroll brought to her attention by an unfamiliar pony whom left long before the library closed for the night. She rested at the top of a metal ladder, looking left to right along the dusty shelves. “Perhaps…perhaps it is not here…” She quietly pondered where to search next, her old joints cracking while she descended. “I...know it's somewhere.”
Amethyst made her way to another section of the library, her shadow casted against the mighty griffin statue built into the library’s brick wall. She thought it may be there, or somewhere nearby, her advanced age seemed to make it hard for her to remember things. She was an old mare, the wrinkles and her droopy complexion reflecting her age, and her faded pink mane. “I can’t retire just yet, too many youngsters to educate, tho...these books will surely outlast me.”
Amethyst positioned her ladder as best she could, a mare her age should not be scouring the library for a scroll by herself late into the night, but the nature of what she searches for demanded that she did for if what she suspects were true then the truth would drastically change Equestria should it ever see the light of day… “Oh...I have to find it.” She mumbled, ascending her ladder.
“If it is true then it must be set free.” Amethyst reasoned, believing herself responsible for the vast collection of knowledge surrounding her.
“Although, I hope it is not true. I hope those stallions are just shysters...” Amethyst thought, reaching far for the bent corner of a paper tucked between two dusty hardcover books. She retrieved the paper, a scroll that had been flattened and concealed between the two books. “Oh dear, I must remember to clean tomorrow.”
Amethyst descended her ladder, carrying the scroll with her to the Lectern overlooking the first floor stairway. She reached for a lit lantern, holding it at an awkward height that made her arm quiver slightly. It was not an ideal source of light, but she had deliberately left most of the library’s candles unlit to conceal her presence from anyone noisy enough to peer inside from the stained glass windows. Whatever a somewhat senile old mare was doing in her library this late at night was her business alone. “I can’t read this.” She said aloud. “My glasses are clouded, where's my water?”
“You mean this flask of water right here?” A young sounding stallion offered, tauntingly holding her flask up to her gaze. He stood at the top of the first stairway, standing between the two separate stairways leading up to the second floor.
Amethyst stepped back with a surly expression, how on earth did a youthful gray stallion get into her library and why was he wearing what resembled, no…it is a soldier’s vest, she could see the split along its collar meant for ceramic plates and the square storage pouches attached to his abdomen. “Why are you here?” She bawled, astonishment entangled in her voice with great concern.
Two sets of muscular arms wrapped around her, one former pulling her backward off of her hooves while the other pulled her down until she landed on her back. “Oooooh, no!”
Amethyst winced, a popping noise emitting from her back while she squirmed for freedom. Two tall and wide shouldered stallions held her tightly, pinning her to the ground. She looked up, her nervous gaze meeting flat, unemotional, charcoal eyes on faces hidden by black masks. They leered down at her, saying nothing to her with words yet telling her of the severe consequences she would face with the way they looked at her. She turned her head, noticing a set of figures moving around. “Uh, who...what, how many broke in?” Amethyst whimpered.
A few moments passed until the younger stallion, perhaps the youngest of the group entered Amethyst’s sight. She peered up at him, trying to get a better look at his face. His smooth complexion accompanied by his clean shaven face, styled hair and dark green eyes hinted at him being an adult, that and the fact that a set of dog tags rested against the woven red scarf around his neck. He reached for the pair of shades atop his head, playfully twirling them around his hoof. “Yah know...I really like libraries, lighting this place up is going to be sad.”
“Li…” Amethyst stuttered, the two stallions intimidating stallions restraining her tightening their hold of her. “Lighting it up, what do you mean?”
The young stallion coldly replied, “Gasoline granny, we don’t have the time to search for scrolls so we’re going to cut our losses. It's a shame too....” The younger stallion stepped closer, squatting down between the stallions restraining Amethyst. “You really shouldn’t have gotten involved in this.” He said, holding a brochure over Amethyst face.
Amethyst recognized the brochure, it belonged to the independent society of self proclaimed history enthusiasts. They had approached her a few days ago at the library, two of them and they expressed a particular interest in the founding of Equestria, more specifically, the battle that took place between the two royal sisters and the infamous discord. She recalled how agitated they became when she recited the cliff notes of that moment in history, they detested it and insisted that she reevaluate what she thinks she knows regarding the subject by searching for a lost scroll, the scroll she had just discovered. “They told me the scholars recorded a fake account of what really happened, it is my responsibility to study the records!”
The younger stallion flicked the brochure in Amethyst's face with each spoken word. “This...is...not...legitimate!” Amethyst growled at him, the thought of anypony rubbing her nose in it as one would a dog infuriated her, she shot back. “Then why are you so afraid of it?"
“Oh…” The young stallion tossed the brochure aside while he stood up. “That was a very bad call, granny.”
“What?” Amethysts asked, uncertain as to what he meant.
“Guys, change of plans.” He announced.
“Yes sir!” The two stallions acknowledged.
Amethyst got a glimpse of the young stallion's name on his dog tag, Deldius. She cried feebly as the masked stallions forced her onto her hooves, proceeding to drag her down the library’s stairs. She saw tank after tank of gasoline stacked against every bookshelf. “The library is made of stone!”
Deldius stepped up to the lectern, watching Amethyst being escorted away. “Fire will destroy anything if it gets hot enough!” He replied. “And it will!”
“No!” Amethyst cried, seeing the library's front door open from the outside, two more masked stallions dressed in black clothing motioning the others towards a wagon with barred windows, a wagon meant to hold a prisoner. “Stop, ponies need this library. You can not do this!”
Deldius reached for a leftover tank of gasoline left by one of his masked associates, pouring a trail of gasoline behind him as he made his way towards the exit. “This is for the betterment of Equestria as a whole, not just the Crystal Empire.” He gently whispered, reciting his words in his head like it was doctrine to him.
Deldius carefully poured a trail of gasoline leading all the way out the front door, tossing the empty tank aside, he lit a strike anywhere match using the back of his front teeth. One of the masked stallions gave him a quizzical look to which he responded. “Shut up, we get dental coverage...”
The masked stallion rolled his eyes, proceeding to the front of the wagon holding Amethyst. She peeked between the wagon’s bars, watching Deldius toss the match into the library. A single flame built upon the gasoline trail, creating a blazing wall that spread to all things. “No!”Amethyst squealed.
“Sir, where are you going?” One masked stallion asked, watching Deldius walk off.
Deldius halted, casting his gaze over his shoulder. “I’m going for a walk, take the prisoner to segregation. I’ll get to her later.”
“Yes sir.” The masked stallion replied, marching off with the others and the wagon.
Deldius moved on, putting his music player’s earbuds into his ears. The deafening acoustic roars of hard rock flushing his hearing. He grinned, looking down at the wet crystal pavement beneath him. The raging inferno that engulfed the Crystal Empire’s library was burning so brightly that a reflection had been casted off of the street, the sparkle against his darkened shades reflecting his covert nature...
Author's Note
Off topic, but the music Deldius would listen to would sound something like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKFZQojNUjI
