"NEXT STOP, PONYVILLE!!!"

Random Fact was sleeping on the early train into Ponyville, the call for his stop not quite registering with his brain, "five more minutes.." he grumbled, as he rolled over and started to doze back off.

"Sir, Sir, this is your stop, you asked us to wake you when made it to Ponyville." the earth pony attendant shook the sleepy stallion gently, hoping to wake him up.

"mmmfffff" the gray unicorn rolled out of his seat, eyes still closed, he thunked onto the ground. Slowly pulling himself up from the seat and brushing his hoof through his green mane, he haphazardly retrieved his bag and almost made it out the door, resting against the door frame, only halfway out of it.

The same attendant looked at him worriedly, "are you gonna be OK" she poked him gently on the flank, only to watch him tip out of the train and face down onto the platform with his scroll marked flank up in the air. Looking around to see if anyone noticed, she quickly closes the door. "All aboard" she shouted up to the conductor. The train whistled and pulled out of the station.

Silence reined on the platform for a few more minutes as the unicorn staggered upright, still a bit wobbly. Yawning widely, he took a few steps forward and proceeded to fall face first off the platform. "Ow" he informed the ground he's currently getting to know, "that hurt." He pulled himself back up yet again, and gathering his bearings, he slowly wandered into the town. "I wonder if I can find a good cup of coffee" once again talking to himself, it was early in the morning and not many ponies were wandering around just yet.

He made his way down the road, the smell of baked good filling his nostrils, "something smells good" he commented to himself as he followed his nose to a lovely...gingerbread house? Was someone pranking him, was he about to find some old crone inside that bakes fillies into pies. He suspiciously inspected the front of the building until his eyes landed on the sign by the front door, a sign that read Sugarcube Corner. "OK I guess someone actually built a house that looks like desert, either that or I need a lot more sleep."

The door struck a small bell as he swung it open and he made his way inside to find a cute little bakery. There were glass cases of all sorts of cakes, doughnuts, cupcakes, and his personal favorite, muffins. His mouth watered at the sight of the delectable goodies, when his attention was pulled away by a blue pony with a pink mane called out to him from behind the counter.

"Well hello there dearie, just get in on the morning train did'jya?" The sweet mare, whose nametag he just caught, gave off a very motherly vibe.

"I just pulled in, Ms. Cake...yawn...I could sure use some coffee and a muffin."

"Sure thing dearie, we'll get you all fixed up as soon as Pinkie brings out the coffee."

At that moment a bubblegum mare with bags under her eyes stepped out from the kitchen while balancing a large coffee pot on her head.

"Were you out late again, Pinkie Pie?" Ms. Cake worriedly looked her over.

"Uh-huh," she slowly nodded her head as she poured a cup of coffee, set it on the counter, and then proceeded to drink the rest of the pot herself. Random winced at the sight of that, that cant be healthy. Pinkie lowered the source of caffeine overdose from her lips and then just stared at Random, her eyes as wide as saucers.

"I take it you're not a morning pony either, Pinkie?" He causally asked her.

Pinkie instantly leapt into the air, let out a big "GASP" and bolted out the door, leaving a very stunned stallion just standing there.

"Was it something I said?" He asked as he wrapped his green magic around the breakfast that Ms. Cake offered, taking a long draw of the coffee, although not near as long a draw as he just saw Pinkie take.

"Don't worry bout her dearie, she gets like that. But what kind of cake do you like?"

"Strawberry, why?" He said while taking a bite of his muffin.

"Oh, I just like to get a head start on things. Now you have a good day, I've lots to do before tonight." She ran back into the kitchen shouting "THE PINK IS ON THE PROWL!" A male voice could be heard responding, "WHAT?! AGAIN?!"

"OK that was...strange" the now very alone stallion pondered to himself as he made his way back outside. He couldn't see hide nor hair of the pink missile that launched out of the building, however he did see a blonde earth pony chuckling at something as she waved him over with her Stetson.

"Ah see you met our local disaster, she'll turn up again before too much longer. Ya wanna buy some apples," she said while gesturing to her apple cart next to her. "Best gosh darn apples you'll find anywhere in Equestria."

"Perhaps some other time," he said while finishing off his muffin. "I've only just had breakfast." He couldn't help but feel there was some joke he wasn't getting as she seemed to find something funny. "However I would be grateful if you could give me directions to the local library, the roads seem to be a bit different than the last time I was here." He had forgotten to pick up a town map when he got off the train and the town looked a lot different than he remembered.

But no sooner had the word 'library' come out of his mouth that she narrowed her eyes at him, her gaze silently judging him. "And what...do ya want at the library. Y'all better not be going there to bother poor Twilight." She poked her hoof at him at his chest to make her point. "Girl's had enough problems with stallions lately."

Random was taken aback at this accusation, where is this coming from. Who was this Twilight she was talking about? Had she moved in while he was gone? How long was he gone again? "I used to live there and I was wondering if anything of mine was still there. Besides, I don't know who this 'Twilight' is."

She stepped back at that last statement, clearly shocked by something he said. "You hit yer head on the same rock you been hidin under?! Dun't know who Twilight is? Well, if you ain't gonna bother her I dun't see no harm." She gestured down one of the roads. "Well all right then, head down this road and its a left at 'Sofas and Quills'. Library will be right there. Now no funny business, Ah'm a watchin you." She continued to glare at him as he beat a hasty retreat.

What was that all about? Her personality had pulled a one eighty the moment this 'Twilight' came up. Well, based on the context, she's probably been having some boy trouble. Maybe he'll find out once he gets to the library. Random continued his hurried pace, making a left at the furniture and stationary store. Why those things specifically? He finally found his way to his destination, 'The Golden Oaks.' Ah, home at last, he thought as he made his way up to the front door. However he failed to notice the green glow that was pouring out from the windows.

Twilight Sparkle was in her study enjoying a nice, quiet day of pouring over a new book of advanced theories that had appeared in the library last night. She still hadn't found out how new books kept showing up. I mean, it was usually a just a few novels that showed up from time to time. But this time it was a full compendium on advanced leyline placement and how it affects the environment.

"Twilight!!!" her favorite assistant Spike yelled from downstairs in a bit of a panic, "I think you should see this."

Twilight begrudgingly got up from her seat after several more shouts from Spike, the shouts getting louder and more panicked as banging noises could be heard coming from the lobby. Exiting her study in a hurry, she bumped her wings on the doorway, she had only had her wings for a about a week and still hadn't gotten used to them yet. She made her way downstairs and found a strange sight. A green glow permeated the room as books flew into the air along with the shelfs they rested on, furniture slowly lifted into the air and stacked on the ceiling, and the sound of splitting wood could be heard coming from the walls. Large cracks started to form at the base of the walls and started to crawl upward. A bright light poured out from the space that opened up. A light that grew brighter and brighter like something was about to...

Her eyes grew wide in panic, she leapt down the remaining stairs and bolted across the room. She scooped up Spike as she ran and barreled her way out the front door...right into a head on collision with the unfortunate stallion standing there. Their momentum carried them a good dozen feet until they collided with a fencepost. Without getting to her hooves, her horn glowed, casting a bubble over all of them as she turned her head to watch the light from the windows get brighter and brighter until...nothing. Nothing happened. The light died down and the windows just looked like normal windows now.

"What was that, Twilight?" Said Spike looking none the worse for wear for their little tumble through the front door.

Forgetting the extra pony she crashed into, she stood up and rubbed her head as she made her way back to the door. "I have no idea, Spike. But you better believe I'm going to find out." She jumped to her hooves and rushed back up to the door. It wouldn't open. She pushed and kicked at the door, tried to open it with her magic, and finally she tried to teleport inside. The last attempt just resulted in her reappearing mid-warp and slamming into the door. "It's no good, Spike," she cried. "I don't know how but we're locked out. What are we going to do?" She crouched on the ground, hiding her face in her forelegs.

"Ow, what's with all the crazy ponies I keep running into today?"

Upon hearing an unfamiliar voice, Twilight spun around and took up a defensive stance. Her eyes locked on the well built unicorn stallion. Was this another suitor from Canterlot looking to better his lot in life by courting her? She had sought assylum from the stallions of the big city after only a week of being crowned. Had they chased her back to ponyville? "Who are you and what do you want?" She demanded.

"Dear sweet Celestia you have a hard head," said the intruder as he pulled himself from the ground and dusted himself off. "I'm Random Fact, Librarian of the Golden Oaks." He Made a light bow and winced as he did so. "And I could use some ice," he said while holding a bump on his head.

"Librarian of the Golden Oaks?" Twilight asked while she glared at her intruder, "but I've never seen you before."

"I've been out of town for...a while." His horn glowed for a moment and a little green bubble popped as he caught the icepack in his hoof and held it to the side of his head. "Oh that's much better." His pained expression calming as the ice worked its magic. He focused his eyes back on Twilight and asked, "so are you this Twilight I've heard about in town? The apple farmer seemed very protective of you." He continued look over the young mare in front of him as he tried to figure out the source of this aggression when his eyes caught on the feathers shifting at her sides. "Wait..." He said aloud, as the pieces came together. "Are you an alicorn? Well a few things make a bit more sense now. Now if you don't mind," he said while trying to get around her. "Do you mind if I go inside? I have a few things I'd like to check on."

The lavender mare reluctantly relaxed a bit. The logical part of her brain taking notice of how he genuinely seemed to have no idea who she was. Looking back at the door she said, "I don't know how to get back in. It seems to be magically locked."

"Try asking the door to open nicely, that usually works for me." He stated while grinning. Saying it like it was the obvious answer.

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, thinking he must have hit his head harder than she thought. "I don't see how walking up to the door," she walked up to the door, "and asking it 'door will you please open for me' is going to..."

The door gave a small click and swung open on it's own accord.

Twilight just stood there with her mouth agape as Random was trying to hold back a laugh and failing.

"You should see the look on your face," Random barely got out while holding his gut from laughter.

Twilight glared at him with a deep crimson blush on her face as she made her way back inside to see what the damage was. However, when she saw what had happened to the inside of the library. There was more shelves, more books...a lot more books. A soft glow permeated the floor that was easy to read by but soft enough not to strain the eyes. Calming energy also seemed to fill the room in a way that couldn't be conveyed with simple words. She could just look at the room and know it would be the perfect place to study. At the end of the room was a door that wasn't there before. The door was covered in carvings and glyphs she didn't recognize. The frame had a green and silver pattern running down the whole length of it. She could spend hours just studying the intricate details that made it up.

"It looks just like I remembered it," Random made his way inside, taking in all the details with a soft glow on his face. "Sorry if it gave you a bit of a scare this morning."

"Don't worry about it," said Twilight, forgetting her earlier troubles for the moment. Stars filled her eyes as she looked over all the new literature that filled the walls. "So what exactly happened this morning?"

Random leisurely gestured to the walls as he walked over to the new door. "This old girl probably noticed me outside and panicked to clean up in a hurry. Now if you don't mind, I'm looking to unpack" He placed one hoof on the ornamental door and you could hear him barely whisper beneath his breath, "sorry to be gone so long, be a dear and open please."

The Door swung open gently, only giving the smallest of creaks that sounded more like someone was crying after being reunited with a long lost friend. As the door cleared the way, a spiral staircase ran along the wall on the other side, leaving a dark hole down through the middle of it. Random put a few hoofs on the stairs before turning around and looking to Twilight. "Well if you need anything, I'll be downstairs. Feel free to drop by," he said while giving a small bow and falling backwards down into the darkness.

Twilight rushed over to the door in a hurry, looking down the shaft he just fell down, "Are you ok?!" She shouted down the stairs with no answer. She beckoned Spike over and as soon as he had situated himself on her back, she raced down the stairs. The circular walls were a fine marble, with a fine candelabra set into the wall to provide light every dozen steps. After the first couple dozen steps she started to get worried they hadn't reached the bottom yet. She leaned over the edge, trying to see the bottom when part of the step broke off under her hoof and fell down the middle of the stairwell. She continued to lean over the edge, listening for the rock to hit the bottom when the piece of step that broke off fell from the wrong direction and hit her from above, causing them to stumble down into the darkness.

They didn't fall very long before landing on something soft and plushy. Once certain she was still alive, she rolled over to see how far they had fallen. "What the..?" She said aloud, looking at the light from the open door only about a single story above them. "Are you seeing this Spike?"

"I think so Twilight," said Spike. "How is that possible?"

"I think the space is enchanted," mused Twilight. "I've no idea why though." She rolled over on the big pillow they landed on until she found solid ground again. She took in her surroundings and saw an open archway with a soft light bleeding through it. Carefully making her way towards the arch, she approached and seeing nothing out of the ordinary she stepped through it. Something was there, something she couldn't believe, this something had been under her hooves all this time and she had never known it. This something made her breath catch in her throat.

Twilight stood on a ledge overlooking a large open cave that stretched out as far as the eye could see but the space was not empty. Hundreds upon hundreds of shelves stretched through the space and across the walls filled with thousands upon thousands of books. Every so often the shelves made way for some tables and plush looking chairs that a pony could sit and read for hours without getting sore. Her eyes looked up the walls and she spotted some high walkways going past even more shelves with reading alcoves in the high walls. Reading area's for pegasi, maybe? She even spotted a small fountain and garden off in a far corner. This place was any avid bookworm's dream.

How does she get down there? She searched the edge of the ledge she was on and found a staircase that lead down into the cave. Keeping her eyes on the steps she Carefully made her way down the stairs until they evened on on the ground below. She looked back up and in front of all the shelves, that seemed even bigger from down here, was a solitary stone pedestal adorned with emerald gemstones. On top was the single largest book she had ever seen. It was about three feet wide, a foot thick, and words of some kind seemed to be circling the air above it with the occasional line of text slipping down the slide between the pages. As she approached the magical tome she could make out the title inscribed on the cover in bright golden letters. "Index of the Archive," she read aloud.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than the book started to rise up off the platform, opened slowly as light poured out from the pages. Suddenly it snapped open to the middle of the book and the words started to twist and morph before she had a chance to read the contents. The words slowly twisted into lines, then shapes, and slowly, ever so slowly a face could be seen taking shape within the pages.

"WHO GOES THERE?!" A voice reverberated in front of her, blowing her mane back. Eyes could be seen looking down at her from within the pages, eyes that felt like they stared right into her soul. "HMM?!" The voice pondered, "TWILIGHT SPARKLE. I SEE YOU HAVE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE CENTER OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE KNOWN WORLD. IT IS ABOUT TIME YOU OPENED YOUR EYES TO THE HIDDEN TRUTHS OF THIS WORLD!"

"What is that awful racket!" Shouted Random from an open doorway set into the side of the stairs she came down. He made his way up to where Twilight was looking at the book and just glared at the floating tome.

"FOOLISH MORTAL!" The book continued its tirade. "WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO STAND IN THESE HALLOWED HALLS OF KNOWLEDGE?!"

"Quit fooling around you little firefly," Random quipped at the book. "Now get down from there and stop playing games before I lock you in a metal box." He grinned at the book, "Whisper."

Energy crackled around the book and a sudden puff of pink smoke leapt from the book leaving it to fall back to its stand. A small form darted away from the smoke, landing on Random's face. "Master, is that you?" A small squeaky voice could be heard from coming from the small form. "It's been so long, I didn't know if you were ever coming back. Don't leave me again." Sobs could be heard coming from the small form.

"There there," Random consoled the small figure, "you know my work requires I travel from time to time. Now introduce yourself properly."

The small form zipped off his face and hovered in front of Twilight, she looked like a small glasses wearing mare about the size of a teacup, yellow in color and with a long pink mane running down the side of her head. Actually, she kinda looked like a little mini Fluttershy. What really stood out was the long slender wings protruding from her back, looking like that of a small dragonfly. She bowed into a small curtsy in front her, "pleased to finally meet you miss Sparkle, my name is Whisper, caretaker of the Archive."

"Nice to meet you Whisper" Twilight responded with an excited edge to her voice. "Are you actually a fairy? I've only ever heard about your kind in stories."

Whisper jumped back through the air a bit blushing a bit, "yes, I'm a fairy. We don't talk to ponies that often and I'm usually so busy keeping the books down here in order." She gestured to the literal ocean of books behind her.

Twilight looked once again at the sea of books that lay before her with hunger in her eyes. She forgot about them for moment when a large book had started shouting. She was just itching to dive into the repertoire of knowledge. "Can I look at the books?" she looked at Random and Whisper with stars in her eyes.

Whisper looked over to Random who gave her a small nod, "Go right ahead Twilight, I wanna catch up with master before he has a chance to run off again." She flew over, landing on top of Random's head nesting herself into his long green locks.

"Thank you thank you thank you." She galloped down the aisles of shelves, turning down one row she seems to find particularly interesting and was quickly out of sight.

Random let out a long sigh he'd been holding, he'd been in the middle of unpacking his room when the commotion started up. "Well Whisper," he said looking up at her. "I think its time I finished unpacking and you don't look like you're going to leave me alone anytime soon."

Whisper looked at him, crossing her forelegs with a huff. "Got that right mister, do you have any idea how long you've been gone?"

"Long enough that I had trouble finding my way through town?" He offered unhelpfully, plastering a cheesy grin on his face.

"One hundred years mister." She barked at him, poking him in the nose with her hoof. "Long enough that I wasn't sure you were ever coming back. And I was getting so lonely. Also, before she," she gestured over in the direction Twilight ran off to, "gets a chance to run back and overhear, I can't keep calling you 'master.' What are you calling yourself these days? Last time you were here you went by Word Smith."

"Wow, has it really been a solid century? Oh and I'm going by Random Fact now. I was so busy chasing after the legend of the Hippogriffs that I lost track of time." He padded his way back over to the room he walked out of.

Whisper chased after him, her eye twitching a bit. "Lost track of time? Lost...track...of time?! Losing track of time usually means, 'hey I was so busy shopping that I didn't see the sun go down' or 'I got so caught up reading that I missed that meeting.' Losing track of time doesn't usually cover more than a few hours at most. But you, you, grrrr. You go and disappear for years on end, you don't call, you don't write, and then you just stroll in here like nothing's wrong." Tears were in her eyes as she was hugging the top of his nose.

Random reached up and ever so gently patted her on the head while looking at her softly. "I'm sorry I worried you. But I need to go out and learn things, I've lived a lot longer than my kind normally would and I need to fill the time finding out all I can about this world."

Whisper still sniffled a bit, "I know," she said hugging him tightly. "But I'm still mad at you."

"Well I can't help that now can I?" He said as a green glow wrapped around the fairy, scooping her up and placing her between his ears. "Now, lets see if I can't get my room back in order." He looked over the still messy room, he'd been in the middle of unpacking his magic bag when the commotion started. His horn started to fizzle a verdant green, the same green that was now glowing from his irises, as magic flooded the room, picking up everything and leaving it airborne as a black velvet bag was stretched out over the floor. More and more items flew out of the bag wrapped in his magical grasp. There were piles of books all in different colors, a collection of precious gemstones both uncut and polished; and various chests, desks, sofas, pictures, and shelves that just kept flying out of the magic bag. They assembled themselves across the previously empty space. Sofas placed themselves on top of rugs, shelves found corners to call home as they were filled with the various tomes, and the desk picked a spot in the back of the room and filled up with all sorts of papers and writing utensils.

"EEE HEE HEE HEE!" Squealed Whisper as she flew off his head and zipped around the room. "It's always so much fun to watch you work." She found an empty spot on a high shelf between some of the gemstones to settle in while she watched him finish his work.

Random felt his hooves leaving the ground as energy crackled from his horn, racing down his body and streaking down his back like a mantle. Lines of magic streaked into the corners of the ceiling and moved inward as it carved a spiral into the ceiling. As the spell reached the center of the spiral, it began to pool and drip off the ceiling, leaving pure white crystals forming down from the center and leaving a soft, easy glow over the room.

Now for the hard part. He'd spent years getting this spell just right and he wasn't about to slip up now. He focused on a blank spot on the wall and all the magic pouring off of him raced towards it breaking and branching as it drew closer to the wall. Hundreds of tiny lines of script etched into the wall and formed patterns within patterns. In the middle of these patterns formed gem shaped alcoves. Finally, small fine script etched around the alcoves and finishing the work.

His labors completed, he fell back to the ground with a pain radiating through his chest and gasping for air. "Well Whisper...gasp...I'm all set."

Whisper flew back down off her shelf to hover over him, "you really shouldn't push yourself so hard, you know that kind of magic is hard on you."

"I'll be alright little firefly," he reassured her as he shakily got back to his hooves. "But I need this if I'm going to do the work I need done." He said, while slowly walking over to the three alcoves he formed in the wall and placed three gemstones perfectly in them. A soft blue light glowed from the center of each of them as the magic from the inscription fed into them.

Whisper zipped in front of the gems, a look of fear and wonder across her face. "You finished the spell?"

"I did, it took a long time but everything's almost ready. Only a few small things to take care of first." His knees buckled and braced himself against the wall.

Twilight rushed into the room, "Are you OK?"

Twilight was having the time of her life looking through all the books she found here. She picked up a few particularly interesting ones that she'd take with her if it was alright. She looked at the pile of books she had. They reached high over her head and she felt a bit embarrassed by that. Maybe it was time to call it quits. She already had collected far more than she could read in a week. She made her way back up the aisle with her treasure when she saw a bright green light pouring out of Random's room. Dropping the books she was carrying, she raced over to the doorway. Peeking through the open door as she saw the magic that was just flooding out of him and weaving some of the most complex spell work she'd ever seen. Just who was this unicorn that came out of nowhere, had access to more books than the grand library in Canterlot, barely showed any interest in her being an alicorn, and is able to cast incredibly complex spells...That train of thought was cut off as saw him collapse to the floor and breathing hard. Whatever it was he just did took a lot out of him.

She kept staring in awe for a moment as she saw him struggle back to his hooves, and do...something...to the wall. He also looked like he was talking to the fairy but she couldn't understand anything they were saying. When she saw him collapse into the wall she couldn't just keep watching. She rushed into the room, "Are you OK?"

Random looked at her from his position against the wall, "I'll be OK, just an old injury acting up. Nothing to really worry bout." His horn sputtered a bit before a weak glow grabbed a crystal flask off the shelf. Without saying a word he popped the seal off it and chugged down the thick pink substance inside. As he drank, color came back to his face and his legs stopped shaking. The last thing to happen was his magic surrounding the vial came back to full glow as he finished sucking down the rest of the potion. "Oh that's much better."

Twilight was shocked at how nonchalant he was about an injury that left him that weak. He looked like he was bout to pass out from magic drain. "Are you sure you're going to be alright? What was that potion you drank?"

Random looked dismissively at Twilight, "yes I'm sure I'll be alright. The potion's old remedy but it keeps me going." he set the vial down on his desk and made his way out of his room, Whisper flying behind him.

Twilight made to follow but then she stopped to look at the vial he set down, it was empty except for some residue that could be seen coating the edges. Her curiosity left her really wanting to know what could make a pony recover that fast. However he didn't seem to want to tell her. She looked at the vial and even though she knew she shouldn't take it without asking, she just had to know. Refusing to second guess herself further, she picked up the discarded vial in her magic and with a mental command, she teleported it over to her lab in the basement of her home.

She made her way out of the room and found Random and Whisper over by the index. Random with one hoof down on the cover of the book and eyes closed. "History of Equestria, latest edition." She heard him say. A soft white glow could be seen glowing on a distant shelf and a book flew off the shelf and into the air until it rested in front of him. Picking it up in his own magic he made his way over to one of the reading areas and sat down in a pile of pillows. So apparently that index could be used to find certain books quickly, good to know.

She wanted to try and use the index herself, but then she tripped over the pile of books she'd left by his room. Sighing, she picked up her forgotten tomes and made for one of the other plush reading areas, they really did look quite comfy.

Random read for several hours, getting up every so often to have the index call up another reference for him. Finally satisfied, he fell back into pillows and looked up at Whisper, who was sitting up on a nearby shelf. "So, the last few years have been quite eventful. Not gonna lie, finding out a changeling queen actually tried an open assault is...kinda funny. I mean, why would a shapeshifting race, genetically geared for covert operations, start war with open hostilities. I mean its just..pfffff..HAHAHAHA!" He rolled over face first in pillow, pounding his hoof into another one. "And then...and then...to have the queen herself, disguise herself as...snort...an alicorn, which, as a high profile target she should never have been able to pull it off in the presence of both royal sisters. Oh Chronos, wherefore art thou mortals play in thine gardens maketh way for the fools." Tears were rolling down his cheeks as he struggled to catch his breath.

Whisper looked down at him from her perch, "You slipped into old Equestrian again, and nopony swears by Chronos in this day and age. As for the changeling queen, I don't think anyone saw her ever get near Luna, she would've been more likely to notice something was off."

"Ah Luna..." he sighed, rolling back over and making himself comfortable again. "I'm glad they made up. Celestia always looked so sad when she looked up at the moon. Hopefully it won't get that bad again." Pulling himself back up to a reading position, his face turned a bit somber. "Now this business with the Crystal empire..."

"Shh..." Whisper shushed him, "she's coming over here."

He quickly closed the book and stood up, settling himself back into the standing position and looking over like he just now noticed her approach. "Twilight, you find everything you were looking for?"

"I did..." she looked at him with a inquisitive glance. "What was so funny over here?"

"Oh," he blushed a bit furiously. "I was just reading over some recent history and some of it was just too funny. But enough of that, I'm starving. It's probably quite late, I wonder where I can find a bite to eat." He quickly made his way over to the stairs leading up, not wanting to give Twilight a chance to ask again what was so funny cause she'd probably not care for him having a laugh at the whole royal wedding incident. The book did say it was her brother who was bout to marry a changeling queen.

They both made their way over to where they dropped in from upstairs. Random keeping up a brisk pace over to the stairs and Twilight trying to catch up, clearly still wanting to ask him what he found so funny. When they got to the stairs that requires you drop in, Twilight seemed to forget her earlier question.

"So why are the stairs enchanted?" She asked while staring up at them.

Random looked over to her, glad that he had managed to change the topic. "There was a time where it was needed to keep out intruders, but now I just leave it that way for fun." He trotted over to the spiral staircase jutting out of the wall and made his way up with Twilight still following behind. It only took about a dozen or so steps to make it up to the door at the top. He pushed the door open and stepped onto the main floor of the library, the lights were off and he could see it was dark through the window. It must've been later than he thought.

"SURPRISE!!!" Came an ear deafening shout as the lights came on, almost causing him to jump out of his skin. The main floor was filled with streamers and balloons of all colors, there was a table set out with punch and cake, and a banner over it all that read "Welcome to Ponyville." Bounding up to him was the coffee addict he ran into this morning, Pinkie.

"Were you surprised I know you were surprised I mean I was surprised when I saw you in Sugarcube Corner this morning and I went 'GASP' and I knew I had to go throw a big party cause that's what ponies do to welcome other ponies to town even if I forgot to find out their name, where they are staying, and even if they spend a super long time to get back to the stories's they're writing." Pinkie looks at the author, "Yeah I'm looking at you buster." She snaps her head back to Random, "so are you surprised?!"

His breathing steadied now that his heart wasn't trying to jump out of his chest. "Yes Pinkie, I'm very surprised," he told her.

"Anyway let me introduce everypony." Pinkie continued without stopping to breathe. "Rainbow Dash, Blossomforth, Cloudkicker, Rarity, Applejack, Lyra, BonBon, that one hiding in the corner is Fluttershy, that one behind you is Twilight Sparkle, and I'm Pinkie Pie."

Random couldn't stop a grin from climbing up his face, "and I'm Random Fact," he looked over at the cake and punch, "and hungry."

"Hey Twilight," said Pinkie as she hopped up to her, eyes going wide as she looked behind her. "What's down those stairs?" Without waiting for an answer she flew down the stairs like a pink comet. Random wondered how long it would take her before she realized the stairs looped.

He made his way over to the cake and cut himself a big slice and taking a bite. Mmm, strawberry. He was enjoying the hospitality as the blond pegasus, Cloudkicker walked up to him, "So you're the new pony in town." She looked him over a bit with a 'look' in her eyes. "You look pretty fit for a unicorn...Ow." Blossomforth, another pegasus with stripes in her mane, was right beside her and had just slugged her in the shoulder. "Cloudy, behave," she scolder her. Everypony had a good laugh at this exchange and nopony, not even Random, saw the mischievous little yellow and pink fairy sneak up from under the party table and sprinkle something into the punch.

Far away from the party in Ponyville, in the royal city of Canterlot, Princess Luna looked over the countryside from her tower. Ponies would soon be heading to bed and then it would be time for her nightly duties. She heard someone come up behind her, it was her dear sister Princess Celestia. "Good evening dear sister, I would've thought thou wouldst be off to bed at this hour."

Celestia walked up and nuzzled her sister, saying nothing about her falling into old Equestrian. "The day only just ended, and I would spend all the time with you while I can. How has Twilight been doing since returning to Ponyville?"

"I've yet to check up on thy student this night, but for the last couple nights she still concerns herself with her new responsibilities as well as the advances of the nobility in both the political and romantic natures."

Celestia rested her head on Luna's shoulder, the millennium of trials taking their toll on her, making her feel her age. "She can't avoid them forever, sooner or later she'll have to learn how to deal with them."

She lifted one hoof and slowly stroked her sister's head, "There will be time dear sister, she hath faced many recent changes in her life. Remember what it was like for us, suddenly expected to move the moon and sun everyday, all while being too young to know how the world works." Luna closed her eyes and leaned into Celestia, offering her strength. "The rest will do her good, as it will you. Go to bed dear sister. It is time I watch the night"

"And I'm sure the nobles will try to find another way to drive me crazy in the morning. Good night sister, I'll see you in the morning." The sun monarch lifter herself back up and without another word, slowly made her way to the door and exited the room.

Luna turned to face the night sky, ready to guard the sleep of the little ponies that relied on her. She took a deep breath and her horn took on it's soft, cool glow. Willing her mind and spirit to reach beyond physical realm, she wandered into the realm of dreams.

It was a night like most nights for the dreamwalker, many ponies slept without dreaming while other had the most vivid parts of their imaginations run wild while their bodies rested. Fillies worried bout getting their cutie marks, adults concerned themselves over relationships, and a sea monster making sure he sported the most beautiful mustache.

Not all dreams were of a simple nature. What she assumed were a few border guards found themselves trying to protect a border that was getting badly overrun, and all they found to defend themselves and their charge was some old mops and a toothpick. She let her magic wash over it, repairing the walls and replacing the mop with proper spears, although the toothpick somepony had moved to between the head sergeant's teeth and turned into a rose. Well, good enough she supposed.

She traveled further down the dreamscape until she found Twilight's subconscious mind. Luna had been checking on her the last couple nights since she had found the newest princess tended to obsess over things she couldn't control. Tonight was no different. She found her in a Library full of books that flapped their way over to her and dropped into her hooves. But when she opened them, suddenly she found a pristine white stallion with a shiny gold mane smiling down at her from on top of the table. She would slam the book shut and it would explode into roses. The roses would settle on the ground and sprout into giant sunflowers, all sporting the faces of the many political figures that had been trying to earn her favor.

Luna swooped down next to her, wrapped a wing around her and whispered softly in her ear, "rest little one. You are at home, safe, warm, and they can not reach you here."

Twilight didn't look up or acknowledge her presence, but she visibly relaxed as the nightmare melted away to a comfortable bedroom where the books fluttered about like butterflies while she was wrapped up in a warm blanket on the bed.

A tiny Luna hopped off the top of a bedpost and flew out the window, and found herself back in the hallway of dreams. The night wasn't too much longer but she was glad she had managed to visit the newest princess this night. Suddenly she collided with something solid, and stumbled to the starry ground. She looked up from the floor of stars and found an arch made of the deepest, blackest onyx framing a double oaken door of considerable age with an emerald ring for a knocker.

"What is this," she pondered aloud. Long nights alone made her frequently speak her thoughts aloud, even if nopony was there to hear her. She reached for the knocker only to have the doors fly open, dark winds rushed out of the open door and pushed her back. As she caught her feet, she stared into the open doorway and a shadowy figure took a single step out. It was a pony but the shadows wouldn't let her see more than that. It's neck stretched and dissolved into a large maw with pointy purple teeth that lunged for Luna. Faster than she could get a get a shield up, the maw closed around her, teeth digging into her flesh. Luna screamed as the maw dragged her into the passage as she tried will all her might to hold onto the edge of the doorframe before it pulled her in. Suddenly the spot she was holding onto broke off in her grasp and she was pulled the rest of the way in as the door slammed shut.

The moment the light could no longer be seen through the door, she found herself in the middle of an open road paved with vibrantly colored crystals. No maw was digging into her, no pain racked her body, and no sign of where the teeth broke her skin could be found.

She looked up both sides of the road. One way led to Canterlot, looking as peaceful as could be. However the other way ended in the Crystal Empire, large black pillars of crystal lined a wall surrounding the city, fires could be seen emanating from various parts of the city and a shadowy figure was flying around the tallest tower of the city.

Luna made to race down the road, but the moment she took a single step, she found herself in the middle of the city. No fires, no shadow wraith, and no sign of black crystal anywhere. The houses lining the sides of the road looked like they were chiseled of various crystals and the residents were randomly wandering the streets. One of the nearby doors opened and a happy filly ran out the door, happy and cheering as she skipped down the road. The princess of the night looked back to the open door and found the tyrant king Sombra there waving goodbye to the filly with a cheery look on his face as he backed up a few steps and closed the door behind him.

She raced up to the door, a cold sweat running down her back, and charged straight into the door, breaking it into pieces. However once she was inside, she found the whole house ablaze and Sombra nowhere to be found. She was about to go back outside when she heard crying coming from up the stairs. Galloping up the stairs as fast as she was able, she avoided the curling flames that raced up the walls, she found the crying coming from deep in a pile of smoke. As she reached in to find the source of the crying, a small set of legs wrapped around her leg. "Save me," the small form cried as it hugged ever tighter. "I want my mommy."

Luna scooped the filly up in here magic, placed her on her back, and wrapped her wings around her to shield her from the heat. "I've got you, you'll be safe." The flames blazed higher on the stairs and having no other way out, she ran at the nearest window. She leapt at it and turning the filly around in her grip, she held her against her belly and leapt out the window, back first, into the open street.

Bouncing off the street a few times and possibly dislocating a shoulder, she looked down to inspect her charge. The filly was still there, sobbing. Luna nuzzled her a until she visibly calmed a bit, however when she looked back up, all the houses were now on fire, soldiers in dark grey armor with only green slits for eyes could be seen everywhere fighting the solar and lunar guards of Canterlot.

"I just want this bad dream to end." The small form continued to sob into her fur, "make the bad ponies go away."

Luna placed the child back on the ground in front of her and despite her pain, brought herself up to her full height. "I quite agree, enough is enough." She charged her full might into her horn, ready to end this nightmare. She didn't like using this method to stop a nightmare since it meant she couldn't help the dreamer's psyche as well as she normally could, but the damage that could happen if she just let this go on was unfathomable. Closing her eyes, she detonated her power and a blue wave of energy washed over everything.

That should have been it.

It wasn't.

When she opened her eyes, she fully expected to be back in the hallways of dreams, but she was still in the Crystal Empire. The fighting had stopped though. She looked around at the ponies still standing there...they were all looking at her, friend and foe alike. All of them had a sickly purple smoke leaking off of them and they approached her as one. She looked down at the filly she had rescued, it was no longer crying. It wasn't joining the masses as one either.

The filly opened her mouth and a voice, much unlike that of a child came out. The deep and commanding voice came out, "you need to go" it said, "this is not a safe place to be."

Luna recognized the voice but she couldn't place it, "who are you?" She asked.

"No time, follow me." And with that, the filly raced at an unnatural speed up the center of the street towards the crystal palace. Luna having to run at a hard gallop to keep up. When they stopped, they were in the center of the city directly in front of the crystal heart. "Through here, this will get you out." the filly said pointing at the heart.

"I have so many questions though," Luna wanted to know more about this strange dream she found herself in.

"No time," the filly jumped behind Luna, bucking her in the side and shooting her like a missile into the crystal heart and back out into the hallway of dreams. She looked back at the open door she just flew through and saw a pair of glowing green eyes with red irises gazing contemptuously at her from a behind a veil of smoke.

Without warning, the same maw lunged at her and she felt phantom pains crawl up her skin as those teeth grew close. It's jaws snapped shut just before reaching her as large emerald chains wrapped around the creature's mouth, tying it shut.

"YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE SO EASILY!" a shadowed form wearing a forest green robe shouted from the open doorway, hooves wrapped around chains and pulling it back in.

"Luna...Luna...LUNA!!" She found herself being shaken awake back in the tower of the moon. She was curled up in a ball, she was shivering, and her whole body was covered in sweat. Standing over her was her sister, Celestia, looking concerned at her younger sister's state of being. "Luna, are you OK, I saw the moon was still up and I find you in shivering in a corner. What happened?"

Luna dove at her sister, wrapping her hooves around her and sobbing into her chest. She didn't notice till now how much she was visibly shaking. "Somethings out there," she managed to eek out. "Something I couldn't stop. It was just..." She lost it as she continued to cry into Celestia's chest.

Celestia wrapped her wings around her younger sister and held her close. "It's OK, I've got you now." She looked up at the night sky, the moon still needing to come down. "Would you like me to lower the moon? it should be morning already."

Luna spoke not a word, but slowly nodded her head as she continued to cry.

Without letting go of her younger sister, the princess of the sun's horn glowed its golden color to lower the moon and bring about the dawn.

Author's Note

it took me way too long to start putting my thoughts together, i've had this story stewing in the back of my head ever since the end of season 3.
the dream got away from me a bit, that part was really fun to write

edit 9/29/20: yep have a laugh at me, forgot to include his cutiemark in the rewrite, its now mentioned when he falls off the train

edit 10/23/20: rawr, leaning writing rules and having to almost rewrite the whole damn chapter. don't worry, nothing changed fact wise, I just made sure it's easier to digest