The Princess's Library

Chapters

Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8, Part 1
Episode 8, Part 2
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11, Pt. 1
Episode 11, Pt. 2

Episode 1

Twilight breathed in deep as she prepared to go on camera. It was a somewhat difficult moment for her. She wasn’t used to being publicly displayed so much, despite being The Princess of Friendship. But, ever since being named successor to Celestia and Luna, she’d had to deal with the constant stream of the press. This particular moment was somewhat different, however, as it had nothing to do with the journalistic ambitions of those ponies. This was her very own reality television show, and she wanted to make a good first impression. But it wasn’t just any reality show. It would help her decide the brand new head mare or stallion of her latest magic school in Manehattan. She’d have to transform from the kind Princess of Friendship into the somewhat dictatorial master mage that she was. So, she mentally rid herself of any kind of want for attachment.

“Princess?” Her assistant, Astral Streak asked, slowly entering the room.

“Yes?”

“They’re here.”

“Good. Have them start their first challenge. I’ll be down shortly.”

“Yes, Mage.”

Astral headed downstairs to where ten ponies waited with baited breath. Their hindquarters shook in anticipation and he had to stifle a smile. For, after all, in The Princess’s Library, there was no room for levity. Each pony had a job to do, and he was no different. True, he was one of the Princess’s secondary commanders, but even he fell under her orders. He just needed to bark them out and whip these newcomers into shape. Upon arriving on the ground floor, he joined forces with his mare co-sous mage and best friend, Comet Tail. The two had feelings for each other, but now was not the time for romance. They each took up a stern look, nodded at each other, and faced the competitors.

“Welcome to The Princess’s Library,” Astral said in a welcoming, yet somewhat threatening tone, “over the course of the next 10 weeks, you will be tested in all areas relating to magic. Spells, incantations, magical potions, you name it, you’ll be tested.”

“Each of you holds an equal playing ground,” Comet said in the same way, “Mage Twilight plays no favorites. At the end of this, only one of you will be left standing and take home the prize. Our Mage will explain that in greater detail in a little while.”

“But for now, you need to get started and create your signature spells. You have forty-five minutes before Mage Twilight gets here.”

Nopony moved. They all just stood there gawking at him. He was shocked. Could these ponies not take the simple cue that they needed to move their flanks? Seeing that the answer to his question was obviously affirmative, he decided to do something about it. So, he trotted over to a bell and began ringing it furiously while screaming at them. This got their rumps in gear, and they galloped off into the library’s brewery to begin whipping up their spells. The smile that Astral had been keeping in finally made its way to his face. Conveniently, it was right as Comet approached him.

“I haven’t seen you smile like that since the night I told you I loved you,” she said.

“Well, I like seeing young ponies with such a passion for magic. It makes me feel that the future of our craft in Equestria is secure.”

“Passion is one thing,” Comet quipped, “skill is another.”

Astral nodded and the two trotted into the brewery to make sure everyone was working. Much to their relief, the competitors were busily humming away, creating something that they were sure would impress Mage Twilight. What they didn’t know, and what most ponies don’t know, is that when it comes to magic, Twilight is extremely strict. Make one false move, and you’re history. Twilight didn’t play around and she knew talent when she saw it. She also knew arrogance, falsity, and disharmony among teammates. She would tolerate none of these things. If someone was struggling and dragging a team down, they would be gone. If someone was haughty and playing for their own ego, they’d be gone. She was concerned with the success of her library. For, after all, her reputation as a master mage was on the line.

Within the brewery, the ponies continued to work. One of them, Starshine Manebright, had concocted something that was certain to please. In fact, she’d copied it direct from Mage Twilight herself! Another pony, Zesty Shifts, was interested in combining magic with cooking. He’d already made something of a name for himself as a chef in his hometown of Sire’s Hollow. Even better, he’d been recommended for the competition by Starlight Glimmer, Twilight’s friend. Now, he just needed to work on pleasing the mage. Yet a third pony, Fire Streak, was hotly pounding away at his own spell. It was coming together nicely, and he was very pleased with himself. But, then again, he was nothing but pleased with himself. He was so arrogant and vicious that, when it came to light that he’d been accepted into the competition, his hometown threw him a massive farewell party. He saw it as high praise. They saw it as getting rid of a nuisance.

“Alright, you’ve got twenty minutes to go!” Astral yelled as he suddenly spied one of the ponies putting their spell onto the table at the front. “Um…you, there! What’s your name?”

“Stone Throw, Mage,” the grey stallion responded.

“You know there are twenty minutes left, right?”

“Yeah, but…I think my spell’s good.”

“You also know that a spell can go horribly wrong if left unchecked for that length of time, right?”

Astral furrowed his brows a bit, showing Stone that he meant business. The contestant sheepishly took back the beaker containing his spell and tried to make it better. Astral could only shake his head. If this was the kind of talent that Twilight had chosen for her first library contest, they were in trouble. It was frustrating for him, as secondary mage, because he was supposed to keep these contestants in line. Without the proper know-how on their part, it would be damn near impossible. But, he remembered the pep talk Twilight gave he and Comet before they began, and he sealed his feelings away. Just in the nick of time, as well, for Twilight was coming down the stairs.

“…5…4…3…2…1…and stop!” Comet Tail called.

The ponies all placed their beakers on the table up front as Twilight entered the brewery for the first time. She trotted to the front and gave them all a look. It was somewhere between a stern mother and a horrifying, yet extremely wise teacher. This was their first test, and nopony wanted to fail her. After all, they’d read that the prize for winning this competition was absolutely outstanding. None of them wanted to miss out on it, and conquering every obstacle was crucial to their success.

“I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle, but for now, you may call me ‘Mage,’” Twilight said, “welcome to my library. Each of you has a chance to show off and impress, not only myself, but our guests as well. Every couple of days, we will open for magic demonstrations. Just like a restaurant, we’ll take orders and we’ll make orders. I will NOT tolerate failure during these times. If a spell or potion is made incorrectly, we’ll do the whole thing over again. Is that understood?”

“YES, MAGE!” The chorus sang out.

“Good,” Twilight said, “now, then. This library is not only filled with thousands of books for you to read at any time you aren’t working, but it’s also a competition. Those who rise to the top will stay. Those who fall to the bottom will be kicked out. I may be The Princess of Friendship, but in here, we’re all about business. Understood?”

“YES, MAGE!”

“Alright. Now, the prize for winning this extraordinary competition is amazing. The winner of The Princess’s Library will become the head mare or stallion at my brand new magic school in Manehattan! That comes with a salary and a cash prize of 250,000 bits out of my own personal treasury. BUT…I’m not just gonna give a job with such importance to somepony I don’t trust. So, show me your talent. Show me your enthusiasm for magic. But most importantly, show me that I can trust you with this position. Clear?!”

“YES, MAGE!”

“Excellent. Okay, each master mage in this country has a signature spell that they’re known for. I want to see yours. Let’s begin with…you! Orange mare in the back, please step forward!”

The mare did as she was told, though she quivered a bit when she got up to face Twilight herself. The mage was harshly strict, and it frightened her a bit. But, she stood her ground and gave Twilight the same look she gave her.

“What’s your name?” Twilight asked.

“Orange Peel,” the mare responded.

“…and what’s the spell?” Twilight asked.

“It can peel oranges without any kind of mechanical assistance!” Orange said proudly.

Twilight looked dumbfounded. “…show me.”

So, Orange turned and zapped a nearby orange in the food storage. It dropped its peel…and then just sat there. The unicorn seemed to be extremely proud of this spell, but Twilight was not. The mage was shocked that something so underwhelming had been produced from the amazing brewery she’d set up for them.

“Really? That’s it?” She asked.

“Yes,” Orange said, suddenly thinking that she might have gone wrong, “um…ta-da?”

“Oh, buck off with your ta-da,” Twilight said, “I’ll have none of that kind of foalish foolishness in my library! As for your spell, it was pathetic! Absolutely bucking pathetic! Orange peeling, really. My friend Rarity’s filly sister can do that. Come on, Orange. I expect more! Now, buck off back in line.”

Orange, near tears, trotted back to stand with the other contestants. She hadn’t realized just what a terrible attitude Twilight had. She always saw her as the kind, gentle princess. But in here, she was a stern mage and nopony needed to step out of line. She realized that her spell was underwhelming, and she promised herself that she’d do better. Her spot in the competition depended on it.

The next few ponies who went were just as underwhelming. Lock Jaw’s spell to fix a broken lock was lukewarmly received, and Spell Caster’s spell to remember every spell in a book exploded in his face. Rune Stone tried to overly complicate her spell with the use of too many runes, and Dark Cloud’s spell backfired when it zapped Twilight’s rump with lightning! Needless to say, the mage was quite angered by this poor start to the signature spells. So, she called the next pony forward, hoping and praying that this one might have some talent.

“What’s your name?”

“Fire Streak, Mage,” Fire said without hiding his haughtiness.

“Ah, yes, Fire Streak, the pony whose entire town recommended him for some reason,” Twilight said, “let’s see if that recommendation was warranted.”

Fire caused his horn to glow, and soon, controlled bits of flame shot from everywhere in the room! Twilight was astounded and very impressed by his talent. Nothing was out of place, and none of the fire came close to injuring anypony or burning anything. It was simply magical, and even his other competitors looked with slacked jaws. He soaked in their silent adulation, adding it to the pile of arrogance growing in his chest. Pleased with his performance, he stopped the spell and turned to face Twilight.

“Wow!” Twilight breathed, “that was bucking outstanding. Well done, Fire, well done!”

“Thank you, Mage,” Fire said, his arrogance spiking in his tone, “I always try and put my best hoof forward.”

“I’ll say you did that today,” Twilight said, “now, get back in line and let’s have…you, the brown mare, step forward.”

High Tower, a veteran of the Vanhoover magic scene, made her way up to stand in front of Twilight. She performed her spell, a wonderful little concoction that made flowers appear on all the tables and filled the room with an intoxicating aroma. Twilight breathed it in, loving the way it played with her nose. She also noted that High was a bit flirtatious with her performance, batting her eyes at some of the stallions in the room. Stifling a giggle at just how adorable she looked, Twilight told her that she’d done well and asked her to get back in line.

The final two ponies were called up together. Zesty and Starshine both prepared to do their spells. Zesty’s was a fine spell, whipping up an instantaneous feast that would feed twenty ponies! When she went to taste the food, Twilight was astounded at the amount of flavor. Considering the amount of time Zesty had been given, she thought he’d done the best out of all of them so far. She told him so, praising his effort and telling him that he was an early frontrunner. This did not sit well with Fire Streak, who stewed in the line. He thought his fire spell was a lot better than Zesty’s. After all, any foal could conjure up food, he said to himself.

Then, it was Starshine’s turn. The pretty golden mare shook as she prepared to demonstrate her work. But then she remembered that she’d simply copied it from one of Twilight’s books. Surely, Twilight would not be turned away by her own spell…right? Starshine, at a nod from the mage, shot her blast into the air. Twilight watched, and then blushed as the spell came together. She remembered creating the spell, which formed the term “I (heart) You” when she had a silly crush back in grade school. It came complete with rather wimpy little fireworks. The colt in question had been rather impressed as, for a filly of Twilight’s age, the spell was quite advanced. But now, it just looked sad. What made Twilight even angrier was the unoriginality involved.

“HOW BUCKING DARE YOU?!” She turned fiercely on Starshine, “YOU COPIED ME?! What in the HELL were you thinking?!”

“I…I just…I-“

“No, it doesn’t matter! I know exactly what ran through your tiny mind at that point!” Twilight roared, “you thought you’d one-up everyone else here, do a spell of mine, and get your rump sitting pretty on my throne of favor. Well, guess what, missy?! There IS NO THRONE OF FAVOR! All of you are expected to do your best, and this is not your best work! In fact, it isn’t even YOUR work! I will NOT accept plagiarized spells here! IS THAT BUCKING UNDERSTOOD?!”

“Y…Yes, mage,” Starshine said quietly as her spirit took a pounding.

“Good. I don’t want to EVER see this again. I’m very disappointed, Starshine. Now, piss off back in line.”

Starshine returned to her spot. Her heart was shattered. She’d idolized Twilight for so long, and she’d always wanted the chance to show her what she could do. But on this day, it seemed she’d made a grave mistake. It was one that could have possibly sent her home. She was thankful that Twilight had been somewhat merciful in that regard. But in everything else, her small show had been decimated. She learned the hard way that one survived on one’s own creativity with magic. Oh…what do I do now? She thought, I…I might have just blown this entire competition!

Episode 2

Previously, on The Princess’s Library: 10 ponies arrived in Canterlot to meet Princess Twilight Sparkle and her sous mages, Astral Streak and Comet Tail. They were told that the prize for working hard and doing well would be 250,000 bits and a head mare or stallion position at Twilight’s new magic school in Manehattan. During the signature spell challenge, Fire Streak and High Tower excelled. But Starshine Manebright, Orange Peel, and others failed to impress their mage, with Starshine being called out for plagiarizing one of Twilight’s own spells! Today, the ponies will be thrown into the heat of service for the first time, and tempers…will…flare! Who will be eliminated, and who will Mage Twilight toss a life preserver to? Find out, next!

And now, the continuation of The Princess’s Library…

After the signature spells had been completed, all ten ponies were shown to the dormitory. They found it to be a luscious, luxurious area full of comfortable beds and a well maintained living space. The kitchen was to die for, and the ponies snickered as Zesty Shifts acted the part of a rocket. He launched around the room, touching everything and beholding its vast magnificence for the first time. Nopony wanted to stop his fun, so they all took to unpacking and exploring their new home. However, it didn’t take long before some drama began to build underneath everything. Everypony had placed their belongings in the proper spot and had settled in to read Twilight’s spell menus in preparation for the upcoming service. Everything had to be done precisely, otherwise each concoction would have to be redone. Twilight’s tone of warning had spoken volumes to each pony.

“Honestly, these’ll be a snap,” Fire Streak said haughtily.

“What makes you so sure?” Rune Stone asked, furrowing her brows in confusion.

“Because I just am,” Fire said rudely, “and plus, with me on the team, we’re guaranteed to finish tomorrow’s service.”

“That’s a pretty damn bold statement,” Rune responded.

“It’s not bold at all, Rune,” Fire said, shaking his mane, “it’s a simple fact.”

The ponies all looked at each other as it appeared their first common enemy had made himself known. Fire’s earlier spell had impressed them all, but his attitude was terrible. If he were to win the competition, the poor students in Manehattan would have to deal with him on a daily basis. The thought frightened everypony, so they all made an internal vow to defeat Fire. They didn’t say anything, but allowed him to go on prattling about his perceived greatness, knowing that his time would come shortly. There was something of a subtle nod shared between the nine other ponies. They understood that Fire needed to go. Unfortunately, he had talent to back up his disgusting ego. If he didn’t calm himself, the team might suffer from it.

Later, after finishing their spell menu studying, the ponies readied themselves for a good night’s sleep. Simple acts such as showering, the brushing of one’s teeth, and certain book readings were being performed. The mares and stallions were segregated from one another, so as not to cause any kind of privacy invasion. So, it was odd when Fire Streak turned up on the mare’s side of the dorm. He was met by Rune Stone, who gave him a look of defiant determination. Ever since she was a little filly, she’d always held this sense of tenacity. She would not be pushed aside, by mare or stallion, and she enjoyed knocking the arrogant back a few pegs. This was a golden opportunity to do just that. So, she didn’t reprimand him for being on her side of the dorm. Rather, she stood against him, almost daring him to try anything.

“Ya know…you’re really pretty,” he said.

“Oh, bite me, you overgrown puff of wind,” she responded fiercely.

“Mm…that’s how I know a mare is into me,” he said sleazily, “and, I mean, really, who could blame them? Just look at me. Handsome, talented, jovial.”

“Jovial?” Rune asked, stifling a laugh, “that’s not exactly how I’d describe you.”

“Oh, I enjoy a good laugh, my dear Rune Stone,” he said, winding around her, grazing her flank with his hoof.

“Don’t touch me!” She said, smacking him away, “I’ll report you to Mage Astral and Comet, and then you’ll find your sorry rump out on the street!”

“I dare you to report me,” Fire said, “I just bucking dare you.”

Rustling and voices from behind Rune betrayed the presence of multiple ponies. Fire knew that he needed to make a quick escape, or risk getting caught. So, he leaned in and kissed Rune’s cheek, causing her to flare up in anger. Then, he galloped away without leaving a shred of evidence that he was there. Simple lies would be enough to cover his tracks, and he could continue in the competition. But he had his eyes set on Rune Stone. He didn’t find her to be talented with magic, but she was beautiful. Yes, he thought as he trotted back into his room, you’ll be mine. Just think, 250,000 bits, a position that’s pretty much set for life, and a gorgeous mare on my foreleg. Life will be…perfect.

Twilight stood at the head of the brewery, watching as all of the ponies prepared for the service that evening. She could sense some kind of tension between Rune Stone and Fire Streak, but she figured she could deal with that later. For now, she needed to make a great impression on the citizens of Canterlot. Her library was unique in the idea that magical demonstrations could be ordered like a restaurant. No other paradise of bibliophiles in Equestria did the same. True, it went against the code of libraries everywhere (mandatory quietude), but it was incredibly innovative. It took the thing that magic schools were famous for and introduced it into an entirely different setting. Now, Twilight just needed to prove that it would work.

“Mage Twilight,” Astral said, coming forward, “I believe we’re almost ready.”

“Tell me, Astral,” Twilight responded, turning to face her friend and sous mage, “how long have you worked with me?”

“Ever since we went to Princess Celestia’s school together, mage. But…why do you ask such a question?”

“Because I’m concerned, Astral,” Twilight said honestly, “I feel a tension in this brewery that I’ve never felt in any other. I don’t know what it is, but it seems centered around Rune Stone and Fire Streak.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Astral said, “Rune came to me earlier today and told me that Fire attempted to sexually demean her last night. When I confronted him about it, he claimed he knew nothing.”

“So, then…we have a mystery on our hooves,” Twilight said, “and I do enjoy a good mystery. Keep an eye on this Fire Streak character. If the other mares come forward with bad things to say, bring him to my office.”

“Yes, mage,” Astral said.

Twilight then turned and yelled across the brewery and the library. “THE PRINCESS’S LIBRARY…IS NOW OPEN!”

As ponies began filing in and taking their seats, the team attached themselves to their assigned stations. Since there were 10 ponies, there were five different sections, with two ponies working each one. The sections were as follows: fire spells, water spells, earth spells, wind spells, and potions. The four elemental sections were manned by ponies who could be proficient in those areas. Fire Streak headed up the fire spells with High Tower. Lock Jaw and Zesty Shifts were on water. The earth spells were handled by Orange Peel and Dark Cloud. The wind spells had Spell Caster and Starshine. Finally, potions were done by Stone Throw and Rune Stone.

“Right, then,” Twilight said as her team of waiters began bringing in orders, “listen up! On order, four ponies, table one! Two fire spells requested mid-flame, one earth spell requested to move rocks, and one potion requested to grow petunias! Four minutes to the window! Heard?!”

“YES, MAGE!” The team responded as they got to work.

“I’m two minutes out on those fire spells!” Fire Streak yelled as he mixed up his concoction.

“I can trot to the window in that time,” Orange yelled back from her earth station.

“Let’s go!” Twilight yelled, “I need those spells!”

Fire trotted up, his horn glowing with the spells he’d concocted. Once there, he transferred them over to Twilight’s horn for checking before they were sent out. Finding nothing wrong, she held the spells until Orange brought up the earth spell. She used it to zap a nearby test rock, and it floated the proper way. All that was needed to complete the order was the-

“POTION!” Twilight screamed.

“Coming to the window now, Mage!” Stone yelled as he brought up the jar.

Twilight used a dropper to drop it onto a nearby board. She expected flowers to grow…but instead, she got weeds. It was mildly annoying, but she had to remind herself that, compared to the ponies she knew, these were amateurs. She wanted everything to be perfect, but a small mistake here and there wouldn’t derail the whole brewery. So, she decided to keep her anger at the error inside and give the jar back to Stone.

“I requested petunias, not bucking ragweed!” Twilight snapped, “start the table again!”

The ponies weren’t happy at having to redo the table, but they did it without complaint. Fire and High had their perfect spell back to Twilight in no time, impressing the mage. Orange and Dark were just as solid on the earth spell. But, once again, the potion station held everything up. It was almost like somepony was purposely moving slowly. What Twilight didn’t realize was that Rune Stone was the cause of this. She knew that the only way to be rid of Fire Streak was to have him go up on the chopping block. So, she attempted to screw him by being purposely slow. Unfortunately for her, Fire was just too good, and she only ended up making herself and Stone Throw look bad.

“I NEED THE MOTHER BUCKING POTION!” Twilight screamed as the weight of the combined spells overtook her.

“Coming now, mage!” Stone yelled as he sat the potion down.

“Good,” Twilight said as she placed a test drop down and it grew the proper plant, “go, please. Table one!”

Service continued after this mix-up, with the team managing to get out four or five more tables of spells. But then, Twilight called out an order for six ponies, and all of them wanted something different. One wanted his fire spell to create a huge flame, while his marefriend wanted hers to make a small one. Their friends each requested water spells of different types, thus putting pressure on Lock and Zesty. It didn’t take long for Fire and High to get their spells up to the front. But Lock and Zesty were slaving away over the complicated order.

“I NEED THE WATER SPELLS, GUYS!” Twilight screeched.

“Coming to the window now, mage!” Lock called as he brought up all four complicated concoctions.

Twilight took them…and nearly drowned. She was amazed at just how badly the spells were put together. It was a shame as well, for Zesty Shifts had shown such prowess in the signature spells challenge. Lock Jaw’s key based spell may not have been as creative, but Twilight still considered him competent. Now, both of them had taken a giant step backwards, and it irked her.

“Are you bucking kidding me?!” She shouted, causing Lock to flinch, “is this seriously your best?!”

“No, mage!” Lock answered.

“Then take the whole bucking thing back and give me your best!”

Lock and Zesty began the work on the water spells again as orders continued to pour in to the brewery. None of the ponies ever thought it would be this difficult, and some of them found that they were sweating severely. Headaches quickly took their hold, and the team became disoriented very rapidly. Soon, their strong start to the night was merely a distant memory. Spell after spell was returned to them, with Twilight’s screams getting more and more intense. Lock and Zesty finally got their redone spells up to the pass and Twilight took them. But she nearly got flooded again.

“YOU TWO ARE BUCKING USELESS!” She roared with fire in her eyes, “GET OUT! GET THE BUCK OUT OF MY BREWERY!”

Lock and Zesty turned and removed themselves from service. It was very embarrassing for both, as they thought of their friends and loved ones who had recommended them for the competition. But, sadly, Twilight’s brewery, at least on that night, just didn’t seem like the place for them. Unfortunately, the two stallions began to blame each other for the failure, and tempers flared when they got back to the dorm. Each was determined to keep his place in Twilight’s library, and they both knew they could be up for elimination.

“YOU BUCKED UP SON OF A MULE!” Lock screamed, getting in Zesty’s face, “I HAD EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL!”

“Oh, really?! Because as the only pony here with restaurant experience and timing as a team, I can tell you that you truly bucked every spell we sent tonight! You bucked the water shape spell, the water loop spell, and every other Celestia damned spell that was put forth!”

“Oh, for buck’s sake, take some bucking responsibility!”

“Don’t you bucking talk to me about responsibility!”

While the two stallions…erm…settled their differences, back in the brewery, it was complete chaos. The fire station and wind station were performing well enough. The earth station had a few returns, but nothing too severe. However, the potion section continued to drag the entire kitchen down. With Rune being forced to jump on water to salvage the team, Stone found himself all alone. But Twilight showed no mercy, as the orders for potions kept flying in. He’d send them up…and then they’d come right back. His breathing was rapid and he felt like the world was spinning. The pressure of getting everything right was much too intense for him, and he wondered why he’d ever decided to come to The Princess’s Library.

“HEY, BOZO!” Twilight shrieked as she saw him daydreaming, “WAKE THE BUCK UP AND CONCENTRATE!”

“Yes, mage!”

“YOU’RE ABOUT AS CLOSE TO YOUR OWN HEAD STALLION’S POSITION AS I AM TO A BUCKING MVP AWARD IN BUCKBALL!”

“Yes, mage!”

“I NEED TABLE 37’S POTION, STONE THROW!”

“YES, MAGE!”

Finally, he brought it up. It was the simplest one in the brewery: a potion used to make a cute little red circle appear. In fact, it was so simple, it was featured on the foal’s menu. It would never win any awards, but the little ponies seemed to enjoy it. Being a great lover of foals, Twilight had put together the menu based on feedback she received from schools around the nation. The circle potion was one of the most popular. But when she tested Stone’s attempt…it drew a vicious looking timberwolf! Twilight wondered how in the world somepony could be so utterly inept.

So, she turned, looking like she was about to cry. “I…I…I mean, really?”

“I’m sorry, mage!” Stone said, seeing the timberwolf.

“THEY’RE COLTS AND FILLIES, YOU IDIOT!”

“Yes, mage!” Stone said.

“HEY! Don’t you touch another bucking thing. LISTEN UP, ALL OF YOU! HE SCREWS ME WITH HIS POTIONS! THE TWO IDIOTS I ALREADY BANISHED BUCKED ME WITH THE WATER SPELL! I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH HORSE BIT HAS GONE ON IN MY BREWERY TONIGHT! GET OUT! GET THE BUCK OUT AND COME UP WITH THREE NOMINEES FOR ELIMINATION! GET OUT OF MY BUCKING BREWERY!”

“Well, that was a disaster,” Starshine said as the team met to discuss nominees.

“Understatement of the day,” High Tower said.

“I’ve never been yelled at so much,” Orange said, quivering, “…and I thought she was The Princess of Friendship.”

“Not in here, she’s not,” Lock Jaw said, “in here, rage defines her.”

“You aren’t wrong, there,” Starshine said, “now, who do we send up?”

“I vote for Zesty!” Lock said, puffing and turning his back on the other stallion.

“I vote for Lock!” Zesty huffed, doing the same.

“We know you two are both going up,” Starshine said, “I mean, you were the first to get kicked out of the brewery! Now we just need to decide who else is going up.”

“High and I have to be safe,” Fire said, “we’re the only ones who gave a bit tonight.”

“What?!” Dark Cloud shouted, his nostrils flaring, “Orange and I gave multiple bits!”

“Okay, so you cared somewhat. Big bucking whoop. The fact is, High and I were the only ponies who had zero spells returned. If Twilight wouldn’t have kicked all of us out, we’d have finished the service no problem.”

“Are you forgetting that we’re a team?!” Rune exclaimed, “you got your rumps handed to you just as much as we did!”

“Alright, you two, that’s enough!” Starshine said, “we have our first two nominees. Now, we just need a third…”

The team strode back into the library to face Twilight. The mage had calmed down considerably from her earlier outburst, but still looked rather frightening. The lights were dim, speaking to the seriousness of the moment. These accents caused her to look like she was gracing the cover of some thriller or horror film. Everypony gulped, especially the three that knew they were getting nominated.

“That was a joke,” Twilight said, “and I won’t tolerate it anymore. Now, then, Starshine. First nominee, and why, please.”

“Mage, our first nominee is Lock Jaw. The water spells were our biggest downfall tonight, and he played an integral part in that.”

“Alright. Second?”

“Our second nominee tonight is Zesty Shifts. Again, with the water spells, we just didn’t have a chance to get anything out.”

“…and your final one?”

“Our final nominee…is……………Stone Throw, mage. He couldn’t control a station solo after you moved Rune over to water. If you can’t control one station, then how are you gonna control an entire school?”

“Worthy nominees,” Twilight said approvingly, “step forward, all three of you.”

The three came forward, determined to fight to the end. They would each be given the chance to tell Twilight why they deserved to remain in the library. Twilight would then make her decision, and take away the ring that rested on the contestant’s horn. They’d each been given one when entering the competition. If they got eliminated, it would be taken from them.

“Zesty Shifts,” Twilight said, “you showed such promise…but perhaps that was all a sham?”

“No, mage, it wasn’t,” Zesty said fiercely, “I am a very passionate magic user, and I love everything about both magic and cooking. I want to be here, mage, I want to please you. But most of all, I want to show Equestria that two loves can come together to create something amazing. If you let me stay, I’ll show you that I can do this. I can be your next head stallion!”

“If you stay,” Twilight said solemnly. “Now, then, Lock Jaw. Why do you deserve to stay?”

“Mage, I deserve to stay in your library because I have heart, passion, drive, and leadership skills. I would not have applied if I didn’t think I could do this!”

“Yeah, I get that,” Twilight said, “but does your magic taper off at simply unlocking doors?”

“No, mage, it doesn’t, and I’ll never give up until I prove that to you.”

“Big words,” Twilight said, “but words cannot save you. Finally, Stone Throw. You had one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen in any brewery, magic school or otherwise. Tell me why the buck you should stay.”

“Mage, I should stay because I know I’m the right fit for your school. Yes, tonight, I bucked up, but the entire thing was very overwhelming. I felt dizzy, I had a headache-“

“Yeah, well, so did I,” Twilight said, “and you bucking caused it.”

“Yes, mage.”

“Tough call,” Twilight said, “all three of you were horrendous. But tonight, the pony whose time in the library is overdue…is…………………………………Stone Throw. Please, give me your ring and leave.”

“Yes, mage,” Stone said.

Twilight’s heart of friendship softened when she saw the stallion remove his ring and look at it longingly. She knew she needed to be firm in this search, and she liked to believe that every magic user had a talent. Stone’s obviously lay elsewhere. Still, though, it was tough to watch a dream die, and she couldn’t help but feel for the sad pony. He gave her his ring and trotted through the door, never to be seen again. After this, Twilight turned and faced everypony.

“Listen up!” She exclaimed, “if you think that headaches and dizziness are the toughest thing you’ll face here, think again. Now, go upstairs and get a good night’s sleep…you’ll need it.”

“Yes, mage,” the team responded.

“Now, buck off!”

As the team left to head back upstairs, Twilight turned and trotted up to her office. Along the way, a camera pulled by a trolley followed her. This was her chance to explain to the viewing audience why she had eliminated Stone Throw. She’d be leaving comments like this at the end of every single episode.

“Stone Throw told me that the reason he failed tonight was because of a headache,” she said, “now, I’ve given him a chance to get rid of his…and I’ve gotten rid of mine.”

Episode 3

Previously, on The Princess’s Library: Ten ponies were thrown into a magical broiler, as Twilight Sparkle began pushing them. But, it was hothead Fire Streak that pushed Rune Stone to the edge. During the library’s first demonstration, Fire and High Tower shone on the fire spells. But, Lock Jaw and Zesty Shifts failed to impress on water, getting them kicked out of the brewery. The last straw was when Stone Throw, on potions, continually gave Twilight the wrong potion. Lock, Zesty, and Stone were sent up for elimination, but it was Stone who said goodbye to his dream of becoming Head Stallion at Twilight’s new magic school in Manehattan.

And now…the continuation…of The Princess’s Library

“Buck off!” Twilight barked.

The team trotted out of the library and back upstairs to the dorm. Lock and Zesty were still stewing at each other, though no words were shared. Frankly, everypony was much too tired to argue. But that didn’t stop Fire Streak from pulling Rune Stone aside and making a move on her. She growled at him, but it didn’t flinch the stallion. He simply smiled, gave her yet another peck on the cheek, and trotted off. By this point, Rune was furious and made up her mind to report him yet again. Tomorrow morning, she thought, you’ll find your sorry flank out on Main Street.

But the next day, Fire wouldn’t let her leave. He kept blocking her path with various objects, utilizing his talent to his advantage. Smirking from his spot on the couch, he continually moved things like potted plants, desks, and even a couple of coolers. This caused Rune to fly off the handle, and she galloped around to where he was sitting. Taking a place next to him, she turned and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. The look in her eyes was one of absolute fury and she began to involuntarily hyperventilate. All Fire did was continue to smirk, causing her to become even more annoyed and frustrated.

“You sick son of a witch,” she snarled, “I mean, really. Putting things up so I can’t report you? How low can you get?”

“Who said I was the one doing it?” Fire asked with a creepy smile, “I mean, I could…I do have the most talent out of every single donkey here.”

“Donkey?!” Rune exploded, “I’ve never been so bucking insulted in all my life!”

“Oh, come on, Rune Stone,” Fire said, “everypony knows that ponies who fail miserably at magic are referred to as donkeys.”

“That’s not bucking true,” Rune said with a dead look in her eyes, “but at this point, I’m not surprised. By the way, have you looked in a mirror lately?”

“Ooooo…oh, your words hurt me,” Fire said, clutching his chest sarcastically, “oh, wait-no, they don’t. Because I’m gonna win this bucking competition, and then you’ll be on all four knees begging to be with me.”

“You flatter yourself,” Rune said, grinding her teeth together, “and, by the way, watch your bucking back…because I’m gonna win this, and use my money and fame to blackball you from every magic school in Equestria! Your name will be slaughtered by every mage from here to Vanhoover!”

“Eh, dream on, I always say,” Fire said, planting another kiss on her cheek.

“OOOOOOHHHHHHHH!”

“Everypony!” Rang out the voice of Comet Tail, “Mage Twilight wants you all in the library, now!”

“Alright, line up, let’s go!” Twilight called as her staff made their way into the library. She smirked a bit as the team noticed how different things looked that morning. Instead of the usual warm, inviting décor and friendly nature, the floor had been transformed into a maze. But this wasn’t just any maze…it was in a swimming pool! The group’s mouths all seemed to drop together as they viewed this for the first time. They also noticed the look of smug satisfaction on the face of their mage.

“Good morning!” Twilight said.

“Good morning, mage!” The team responded.

“Every single mage, magic school head, and wizard in all Equestria knows how to use magic. BUT…they also know when not to use it. For there is a greater magic than even that which we carry in our horns: the magic of teamwork. It was something that was severely lacking during our demonstration last night. Zesty and Lock, you two were abysmal on the water spells. Rune, you lacked a voice on the potions, and you’re damn lucky I didn’t kick you out. So, with all that being said, this is your next challenge! We’re gonna pair off in teams of two, predetermined by myself and your sous mages, and you’re gonna swim this obstacle course. Here’s the catch: no magic! You’ll have to rely on your senses and each other to make it through. Teamwork is crucial in any brewery, and definitely in any school. So, what are we gonna do?”

“WORK TOGETHER!”

“Good! Now, since we have nine ponies, we’re gonna have one of you sit this one out. Unfortunately, this means you’ll automatically be vaulted into the punishment for the day. Now, then…let me see…High Tower. You’re gonna sit this one out.”

“Yes, mage,” High said, disappointed at not being able to participate.

“Alright, let’s pair off!”

The ponies were each given a foreleg band of a different color. If they found the pony whose color corresponded to them, then they formed a team. Soon enough, four teams of two formed. Team Purple, Team Green, Team Orange, and Team Red. Much to Rune Stone’s horror and chagrin, she found that her green team partner…was Fire Streak. Team Purple was Dark Cloud and Starshine. Team Orange had, fittingly enough, Orange Peel and Spell Caster. Finally, Team Red had Lock Jaw and Zesty Shifts. Needless to say, neither pony was pleased.

“Problem, Lock?” Twilight asked.

“No, mage,” Lock said, shifting around uncomfortably next to his partner and rival.

“Good,” Twilight responded, “now, then, the team with the fastest time will win…and will be rewarded for the rest of the day. The rest of you will be punished. Team Purple, you’re up first! Ready…set…go!”

Dark Cloud and Starshine nodded to each other and dove in the water, swimming for all they were worth. They actually worked together very well, calling out obstacles and helping the other pony if they got stuck. They posted a very respectable time of 45 seconds. The next team to go was Team Orange. Orange and Spell dove in and began swimming just as hard. But they got into a bit of an argument over which direction to go around an obstacle and this hurt their time. They finished at 55 seconds. The third team to go was Team Red, and it was intensely interesting. Lock and Zesty simply wouldn’t speak with each other, acting the part of feminine divas rather than respectable mages. Their time of 1:20 placed them deeply in third. Twilight couldn’t help but be disappointed, as she continued to see both of them decline.

“Well…that was bucking embarrassing,” she said.

“He wouldn’t talk to me!” Zesty accused.

“No, he wouldn’t talk to me!” Lock shot back

“Right now, you both sound like petulant foals,” Twilight growled, “so, get the buck back in line.”

The two mages continued to grumble under their breath as they headed back to the group. Finally, Team Green went. Rune Stone and Fire Streak plunged into the water. Almost immediately, Fire began calling out instructions, bragging about how he’d lead them to victory. But Rune was not about to be outdone by her rival, and she took control. The two battled to be the top pony within their own team, driving themselves further and further away from the win. Unfortunately, due to their thirst to defeat the other pony, they were unable to work together. They hit every obstacle, and wound up yelling at each other for several minutes. Their time of 5:40 placed them dead last. Everypony snickered as they got out and shook their coats.

“What in the ever loving BUCK was that?!” Twilight thundered.

“Sorry, mage,” Rune said, “it’s just…Fire gets on my last nerve!”

“I know you want me,” Fire said sleazily.

“Shut up, Fire!” Twilight roared, “and have some bucking respect for your fellow competitors.”

“Yes, mage,” Fire said, rolling his eyes.

Twilight sighed. He’s a talented pony, she thought, I know what he can do with magic. But…is he fit to run a school?

“Alright,” she said out loud, “congratulations to Team Purple! Your time held up, and you’re in for the most amazing day…because we’re going to the beach!”

Starshine and Dark Cloud lit up at the announcement. Twilight went on to explain that their destination was the Luna Ocean, and that they’d be staying overnight at a beautiful hotel there. They’d be waited on hoof and nail, and also get an exclusive VIP tour of a nearby aquarium. Twilight told them to get ready, because their private train was leaving in a few minutes. Excitedly, Starshine and Dark galloped from the room, eager to begin their time with the princess.

“Oh, dear,” Twilight said, “for the rest of you, this day will not be relaxing and fun. You’ll be cleaning this entire library from top to bottom, under the strict supervision of my sous mages. Trust me, Comet and Astral are…well…there’s no nice way to put this, so I’ll just say it: they’re neat freaks. Yes, they like things to be absolutely immaculate. So, with that being said, get your rumps in gear and get to work!”

“Yes, mage,” the team said in disappointment.

While Starshine and Dark enjoyed their time with Twilight, the rest of the group spent the day cleaning and grumbling. Rune and Fire reignited their passions…for hating each other. Lock and Zesty wouldn’t speak. Much to Astral and Comet’s chagrin, it seemed that a good chunk of their brigade was falling apart. They’d need them at full strength for the next night’s demonstration, so they forced them all to work together. This led to more petty grumbling, and the sous mages threatened the whole team with another cleaning if they didn’t stop.

When Starshine and Dark returned from their trip the next day, the entire team gave them a look of disgust. After all, it’s very easy to become jealous of somepony when they get to do something fun and you don’t. But they’d earned it with their terrific teamwork in the pool the previous morning. The team didn’t have time to worry about them, though, as the impending demonstration had all of them on edge. Would they be tossed from the brewery like they had been the first time?

They gulped, got themselves pulled together, and trotted down and into the brewery. Twilight was already there, at the head, wearing her mage ring. The ponies lined up in the way they’d been taught and faced her. Starshine and Dark couldn’t help but notice that there were two sides to their mage. At the beach, she’d been very kind, sweet, and friendly. It was The Princess of Friendship on display. But here, she was stern and cold, accepting nothing but the absolute perfection of her staff.

“Right, tonight is about redemption,” Twilight said, “we had an awful first demonstration. Now, we bounce back, right?”

“RIGHT!”

“I CAN’T BUCKING HEAR YOU!”

“RIGHT!”

“There you go,” Twilight said, nodding with approval, “now, on your sections and let’s do this! Comet, Astral, open The Princess’s Library, please!”

Ponies piled into The Princess’s Library for the second demonstration. Among them were VIPs (Very Important Ponies), including visiting mages and magic experts. Celebrities also came, curious as to how the demonstrations worked. They were greeted by waiters, who gave them the rules of the library. It was the same as any other likeminded establishment. The ponies weren’t allowed to speak above a small conversational tone, no matter how much screaming came from the brewery. Everyone sat on the edge of their seats, peering into the open aired command center. Soon, orders started to be placed, and Twilight began yelling them out.

“On order, four ponies, table three: one fire, one water, one earth, one air!”

“Yes, mage!”

Dark Cloud and Starshine had been placed on fire spells, while High Tower and Fire Streak worked earth. The water spells were given to Lock Jaw and Spell Caster. Orange Peel and Zesty Shifts were on the air spells. Finally, since there were nine ponies, Rune found herself working potions alone. She silently begged for there to be limited orders, since each potion was extremely complicated to put together. That, and the last pony to ride solo on the station got eliminated from the competition.

Soon, the order was complete, and Twilight found that all the spells were proper. So, she sent them out. The orders continued to pile into the brewery and, much to Rune’s chagrin, a lot contained potions. She tried and tried, but it was very overwhelming to remember that many potions in such a short time. Soon, Twilight became rattled by her slowness.

“RUNE! I NEED THOSE BUCKING POTIONS FOR TABLE 27!”

“They’re coming, Mage! Give me two more minutes!”

“Two more minutes?!” Twilight asked in disbelief, “I’VE BEEN CALLING THEM FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES!”

“They’re coming, they’re coming!” Rune cried, trying to stop the onslaught of emotions she felt.

“YEAH, WELL SO’S BUCKING HEARTH’S WARMING! LET’S BUCKING GO!”

Finally, Rune brought up five different potions. Each pony at the table had ordered a separate concoction, and Twilight needed to test them all. Once again, she was surprised to find that they’d all been done correctly. She was somewhat proud of Rune. It wasn’t easy to solo any brewery station, but the potions may have been the most difficult. There were so many ingredients to remember, and Rune had done them perfectly. She’s a front runner, Twilight told herself, but I have to keep pushing her to see if she’s a fake…or if she’s the real deal.

Twilight grabbed another ticket and turned around. “On order, VIP table, listen up, guys! It’s Songbird Serenade and her family! DON’T BUCK IT UP!”

“Yes, mage!”

“I need three regular earth spells and one fire spell requested full flame! Heard?!”

“HEARD, MAGE!”

Starshine and Dark Cloud got to work on the fire spell, while High and Fire did the three earth spells. They very quickly got their concoctions done and sent them up to the pass. But Twilight’s horn was very nearly burned by Starshine and Dark’s spell, so she sent it right back to them. She demanded it redone in two minutes, and the ponies worked together to get it done. They sent it up…and it almost burned her horn again! By this point, Twilight was close to losing it with the section. For the third time, she requested it. Starshine and Dark did it, but this time, it appeared to be proper. So, Twilight sent it out. Unfortunately, when it got to the table, it flared up so badly that it nearly burned Songbird’s mane off! The pop star wasn’t happy with things, and she returned the spell herself.

“Princess Twilight!” The diva barked.

“Songbird, it’s nice to see you again, but what are you doing here?”

“The fire spell we ordered…look what it did to my mane!”

Twilight was horrified as Songbird showed her the injury. Manes would grow back, but the carelessness of the spell had nearly burned her head. This was the last straw. Twilight whirled around on Starshine and Dark, advancing on them as they quivered in her shadow. Starshine silently asked Dark what she’d done to the spell, and Dark pointed to some nearby fire powder. Upon checking it, Starshine found that it was the wrong kind. The fire powder for full flame spells was meant to generate a pleasing heat. Dark had accidentally poured in a load of powder meant for very extreme spells, and only used on special occasions.

“Get out,” Twilight said, in a voice straight from Tartarus.

“Mage, we-“

“I SAID, GET THE BUCK OUT OF MY BREWERY!”

The ponies hung their heads, turned and walked out of the area.

“THAT’S RIGHT! HANG THOSE BUCKING HEADS!” Twilight screamed, “’CAUSE YOU GUYS WERE AN ABSOLUTE JOKE TONIGHT! BUCK OFF UP TO THE DORMS! YOU WON THE BUCKING CHALLENGE, YOU WENT ON THE BUCKING REWARD, AND THEN YOU PERFORMED LIKE A COUPLE OF MULES TONIGHT! BUCK YOU AND YOUR SO-CALLED TALENT! GET OUT!”

When they’d left, Twilight put Fire on the fire spells, and they all went out perfectly. Songbird and her family received their redo spells in the proper time and quite enjoyed them. There weren’t any further problems and nopony else got booted from the brewery. All in all, it was a fairly solid demonstration…but Twilight was not amused. She called for everypony to line up, and Starshine and Dark returned from their banishment. Their faces were both red and it appeared that they’d each done a great deal of crying.

“We completed the demonstration,” Twilight said, “but I’m not in a celebratory mood. Why the buck does it have to be that painful?! Rune, I know you were solo on the potions tonight, but the slowness with which you were getting things out was…somewhat detestable. But the true embarrassment was that fire station. Ironically, it was the strongest during the first time we opened. Starshine…Dark…what happened?”

“I accidentally used the wrong fire powder,” Dark confessed.

“Three different times?” Twilight asked.

“I guess I just didn’t check the label,” Dark said.

“…really?” Twilight asked in disbelief, before sighing. “All of you, get out of here and come up with two nominees for elimination.”

“Um, Mage Twilight?” High Tower asked, shooting a hoof up.

“Yes?”

“I think we already know who our two nominees are.”

Twilight nodded. “I think you’re right. Starshine, Dark, get your flanks up here. Now, then, Starshine, why should you stay in The Princess’s Library?”

“Princess, I should stay because I have passion and leadership skills. I can do this, and I want a chance to prove that! I didn’t have any spells come back tonight-“

“Didn’t have any spells come back?” Twilight asked, “what about Songbird’s charcoal mane?”

“That was Dark Cloud!” Starshine begged, “that wasn’t me!”

“Hey!” Dark Cloud said, defending herself, “I might have put the powder in, but we both worked those spells together!”

“Quiet,” Twilight said, rubbing her forehead, “I really don’t have the patience for any more arguing. Now, then, Dark, why should you stay?”

“I should stay because I have the heart, the dedication, and the knowledge to be your next Head Mare! Working at the school in Manehattan would be a dream come true!”

“Well, you might just get to work there…as a bucking janitor,” Twilight growled. “Alright, I have to make a decision. The pony whose time in the library is overdue…is…………………………Dark Cloud. I’m sorry, your time is up here. Please, give me your ring and leave.”

Once again, Twilight’s heart softened as the mare brought forth her ring. “Listen,” she said as she took it from her, “the reason you’re going tonight is because you didn’t check the fire powder before using it and it actually injured one of our customers. Whether it’s somepony off the street or Songbird, the ponies who come here are our number one priority. They must remain safe throughout the demonstration. Tonight, your carelessness caused one of them to become unsafe.”

“Yes, mage.”

“I cannot have that kind of incompetence running my school.”

“Yes, mage.”

“But, keep going, keep training…and never, ever give up on your dreams.”

“I won’t.”

“Good night.”

With those words, Dark Cloud disappeared through the front doors forever. Twilight then turned to the rest of the team and barked that she wanted redemption in their next demonstration. After dismissing them, she trotted to the stairs and the same camera from before followed her up. She shook her head as she walked along, giving her thought on Dark Cloud’s elimination.

“Dark Cloud might have had some talent with magic, but her incompetence tonight placed one of our clients in danger. I won’t have that, in my school nor my brewery.”

Episode 4

Previously, on The Princess’s Library: Fire Streak attempted to woo Rune Stone, but found himself rejected at every turn. During the no magic obstacle course challenge, when the two were forced to work together, they posted the worst time out of any team, leading to more misery. Meanwhile, Starshine Manebright and Dark Cloud won the challenge. But, during the demonstration, they performed very poorly. Both of them were sent up for elimination, leading to Dark Cloud’s exit, ending her dream of becoming Head Mare at Princess Twilight’s new magic school in Manehattan.

And now, the continuation of The Princess’s Library…

The team made their way back to the dorms after an exhausting evening. Even Fire Streak was tired, much too tired to argue with Rune Stone about anything. The ponies all immediately went to bed, snuggling down and attempting to get a good night’s sleep. But this is The Princess’s Library, and nothing is guaranteed. Very early the next morning, sous mages Astral and Comet galloped into the dorms and began banging various pots and pans. They yelled at everypony to get up and run downstairs as fast as they could. This led to some amusing moments as the tired ponies tripped over one another in their haste. They knew that Twilight would be waiting downstairs, and none of them wanted to test her patience.

They all eventually dragged their weary bodies into the library, standing where they’d become accustomed to standing. Their eyes drooped and bags had begun to inhabit everyone’s faces. But on the other side of the library, Twilight stood as ready for magical battle as anypony. Her head mage ring was shining on her horn, and she looked very regal. All of the male ponies blushed somewhat as they gazed upon the beautiful princess. Even early in the morning, she just looked so knowledgeable and put together. She didn’t look the least bit tired or groggy. Her eyes burned with an unquenchable thirst for magic. All the contestants hoped to have the same fire in their own pupils one day.

“Good morning!” Twilight barked, politely but firmly.

“Good morning, mage!”

“Last night was a bucking joke,” Twilight said, “I was so disappointed. However, I did see some level of improvement with regard to teamwork. So, for that, I commend you. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a demonstration that was full of horse bit. Rune Stone, what the hell happened to you? When we started this competition, you had a strong voice and some sort-of passion. True, some of your magic skills needed work, but you at least appeared interested. Over the first two demonstrations, I’ve noticed that level of interest slipping away. Have you lost it?”

“No, mage!” Rune said confidently.

“You certainly sound like a proper head mare,” Twilight said, “unfortunately, you don’t do magic like one.”

“That’s not true, mage,” Rune said, fighting for herself, “I can do lots of magic!”

“Well, then, show it to me in this next challenge and in our next demonstration, alright?”

“Yes, mage.”

“Okay,” Twilight said, “Fire Streak. I’ve received some reports from my sous mages that you’re harassing some of the mares in the dorm.”

“That’s horsebit,” Fire said hotly, “I treat everypony with respect!”

“Oh, come on,” Rune said, “you’re full of bit, you know that?!”

“Oh, I’m full of bit?!” Fire asked, his temper flaring.

“Yeah, you’re full of bit!” Rune shot back, “you’ve done nothing but harass me since day one! You even told me that you wanted to win so you could have me on your foreleg when you became Head Stallion!”

“Is this true, Fire Streak?” Twilight asked in a voice of severe warning.

“No, mage, it’s not,” Fire lied.

“Oh, for buck’s sake,” Rune muttered.

“Alright,” Twilight said, “look, everypony. While this may be a dramatic reality show, I do have standards I’m trying to uphold. Romance between contestants is fine. Hell, I don’t care if you buck each other up in the dorms. BUT, I will not tolerate any kind of sexual or personal harassment, from any gender to any gender. If this is reported to me again, the party that’s being accused will be terminated from the contest. Understand?!”

“Yes, mage!”

“Okay,” Twilight said, “now, we need to move on to our next challenge, and to begin, I’d like all of you to welcome a very special guest. She’s a dear, dear friend of mine and one of the Elements of Harmony. Please help me welcome, the fashionista herself, Rarity.”

The contestants all offered a respectful bit of applause as the pretty mare trotted into the library. Her mane was done in its typically exquisite style and she was wearing a new purple gown she’d designed. Her horn had been polished and she smelled as if she’d been frolicking in a field of flowers. In short, everything about her was perfect. Once again, all the male contestants found themselves in awe of a beautiful female. They each began internally debating over which mare they’d want to go out with more. But they didn’t have a lot of time to do so, because Rarity was here for business, not pleasure.

“This amazing mare has built up an Equestrian fashion empire,” Twilight said, “but she’s also a master mage in her own right. Magic, multitasking, and avoiding distractions are the themes of today’s challenge, and Rarity will explain more.”

“First of all, it’s wonderful to be here with you,” Rarity said, “I’m honored to be helping Twilight with this challenge. As she said, it’s all about multitasking. In my line of work, I’m called upon to multitask with numerous things. I also have many distractions that I have to push through in order to accomplish certain tasks. So, in today’s challenge, you’ll each work individually to create…a stunning gown! When you’re done, Twilight and I will judge them. The contestant with the best one wins the challenge!”

“You have forty-five minutes,” Twilight said, “on your mark, get set…go!”

The ponies all darted off to begin conceiving and making their dresses. In this particular challenge, they’d have to multitask creativity, magic usage, and a basic knowledge of sewing. Since none of them had ever done this before, they were given one chance to ask Rarity a question about the machine. However, most of them were able to figure it out and they began racing along. Soon enough, twenty minutes had passed and a lot of ponies were putting their designs through the machine. Everything was humming along, and the normally quiet library was full of the sounds of fashion being crafted.

Then…Twilight and Rarity smirked at each other. They called to Astral and Comet, who opened up the library doors. It was then that the entire Canterlot Magic School marching band came charging in! They began playing a medley of Equestrian favorites. The contestants tried their best, but some of them couldn’t resist stopping their sewing and breaking into song or dance. Twilight reminded them of their task and that they could not get distracted. Despite the seeming silliness of the challenge, it was actually testing the contestants on their ability to run a school. No proper head stallion or mare should ever get distracted by anything. It was good for everypony, and they managed to pull themselves together.

“FIVE…FOUR…THREE…TWO…ONE…AND STOP!” Twilight shouted. “Everypony, bring your dresses up to the table please! Let’s go!”

One by one, the ponies brought their clothing up. For the most part, the challenge had been somewhat successful. Rune Stone crafted a beautiful green gown with velvet lace that Rarity loved. Starshine’s dark frock with small diamonds was deemed a massive hit. But the big surprise was Zesty Shifts, whose homage to both food and fashion held Rarity’s attention the most. Unfortunately, other ponies were not quite as successful. Orange Peel’s gown had some misshapen seams. Spell Caster had not resisted the music and had put together a mismatch of colors and styles. However, the worst dress overall…went to Fire Streak. His arrogance had caused him to avoid learning how to use the sewing machine properly, and his dress fell apart.

“This is bucking unacceptable,” Twilight growled.

“I…understand, mage,” Fire said, his pride taking a beating.

“Um…right,” Rarity said, “well, now that I’ve seen all the gowns, I’m ready to pick my winner.”

“Okay, Rarity,” Twilight said, “which of these dresses would you want to display in your shop?”

“Without a doubt,” Rarity said, “the dress I’d most want to display…belongs to……………………Zesty Shifts! Well done! The fabric is soft and inviting, the colors just pop, and I adore how you’ve taken, essentially, a pizza and created something so subtle yet stunning! I’m very pleased!”

“Thank you, Ms. Rarity!” Zesty said proudly.

“Zesty, congratulations, well done!” Twilight beamed, “for your reward, you’re gonna be spending an absolutely incredible day…at Pony Island! Yes, for the next 24 hours, you get to be a foal again! But there’s one more thing. You get to pick a pony to go with you!”

Zesty thought for a moment about who he’d like to spend the day with. He knew it wouldn’t be Fire Streak or Lock Jaw, as he considered them both his greatest enemies. But there were multiple mares there of excellent physical, mental, and magical acumen. But even more than that, they all seemed rather friendly. Making up his mind became rather difficult, as he just couldn’t pick between them. Finally, he saw the dress Starshine had made, and he knew just how much work had gone into it. She deserved the reward just as much as he did.

“I’m picking Starshine!” Zesty said.

This did not sit well with Rune Stone, who stewed in her anger. She felt mistreated as she’d worked incredibly hard on her own dress and received excellent marks for it. But, it was Zesty’s decision and, ultimately, Twilight had given it to him. Rune had to go along with what had happened, so she put on a faux happy face and congratulated him. She had no issues with him, but spending the entire day being punished next to Fire Streak didn’t sit well with her.

But it did sit well with Starshine. “Thank you!” She chirped, bounding over to Zesty.

“One more thing,” Twilight said, “I’ll be accompanying you as well. Go get ready because our private pony carts leave in fifteen minutes! Let’s go!”

She couldn’t help but smile as the excited ponies bounded off to the dorms. But then, she turned to the other ponies and frowned. She was so disappointed in some of their performances, especially Fire’s. He was so great with magic, yet so utterly arrogant. She couldn’t kick him out, though, because of his talent. It would be foolish to lose somepony who brought so much to the competition. However, her secret side did hope that someday, somepony would defeat him. She parlayed the punishment of helping Rarity sew tiny diamonds onto many pieces of fabric. As she watched them go off to begin, she couldn’t help but stare at Fire Streak.

What are you? She wondered, you seem like you could be heroic, yet you use your talents for frivolity and villainy. If you truly understood The Magic of Friendship…you would know how to run my magic school. For it is not just mysticism you’re being judged on. It’s how well you get along with others.

Later that night, the demonstration commenced. As a special surprise, Twilight’s entire group of friends came and were seated in the brewery itself! Twilight came out of her hard shell for a few minutes and jovially greeted them. The contestants were intrigued to see their mage in such a way. But right after this, Twilight called for the service to start and everypony went to their stations. Since there were eight of them remaining, the five sections were manned by five separate ponies with three acting as floaters. They ran around the brewery helping where they could.

“Alright, guys, here we go!” Twilight yelled as the first order came in, “three ponies, table four, three water spells requested gaseous! Heard?!”

“YES, MAGE!”

“I’m three minutes out on these water spells!” Fire Streak called, manning the water station for the first time. His arrogance had taken a beating during the challenge, so he looked to redeem himself with these spells. One of the floaters, Spell Caster, came by to offer some assistance. But Fire brushed him off and took all the spells up himself. Twilight took them, found them to be absolutely perfect, and sent them out. She then called for another table with all water spells. Fire rose to that occasion as well, sending out perfectly formed droplets.

Time after time, water spells flooded into the brewery, and Fire was able to conquer them. He sent out liquids, solids, gasses, and even a minor flood or two. Each singular order was carefully put together by the stallion who was attempting to show that he could do things right. Little by little, his confidence returned. Unfortunately, this confidence also opened the gates to his arrogance and, soon enough, he was back to his old self. He blew off anypony who tried to help him, and he kept sending up all of the spells himself.

Meanwhile, the other stations found themselves crammed with orders as well. Rune Stone, on the fire spells by herself, sent up an order for the mage’s table that nearly blew Twilight’s mind off. She turned and yelled at Rune to try again. So, the mare did…and the order was exactly the same. This frustrated Twilight to no end, and she marched over to the fire section, wondering what kind of powder was being used. What she found sent her into an absolute tantrum. Her eyes bugged out and the veins bulged off her head. Rune’s station was so disorganized and messy that different types of fire powder had actually begun to merge with each other.

“OH, FOR BUCK’S SAKE!” She screamed when she got there, “LOOK AT THE BUCKING FIRE POWDER! IT’S MERGING! Rune! What happens when one kind of fire powder mixes with an even more powerful kind?!”

“It merges into uncontrollable chaos,” Rune said sheepishly.

“YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT, IT DOES!” Twilight yelled, “NOW, FIX IT AND GET ME A PROPER SPELL OR YOU CAN BUCK OFF OUT OF HERE!”

“YES, MAGE!” Rune yelled back.

She got back on her station, but the fire powder was merging quickly. She knew that the way to solve this problem was with water. Unfortunately, all the water in the brewery was on that particular station…manned by her mortal enemy, Fire Streak. So, she swallowed her anger and trotted over to ask him for some. Of course, the arrogant pony shunned her and continued working. So, she decided to just take some. She magically grabbed a bit and trotted back to her station, using it to separate the merged powder and attempt her spell for a third time. Unfortunately, the powder’s merging was much too absolute and it failed once again. This sent Twilight over the edge.

“RUNE STONE, COME HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” The mage screamed, sending shockwaves throughout the library.

It frightened Rune a bit, but she trotted up. She was going to hold her ground, no matter what. She remembered her mother telling her that this was a very important quality for anypony. So, she would put it into practice. Even as she got up and faced Twilight’s seething, potent rage, she continued to have confidence in herself. Unfortunately, that began slipping away when Twilight started shrieking at her, telling her what she’d done wrong and calling her an incompetent donkey. This caused Rune’s rage to rise. Ever since she’d stepped hoof in the library, she’d been mistreated and cast aside. Now, she was sick and tired of it.

“GET YOUR BUCKING FLANK TO THE DORM!” Twilight screamed, “GET OUT!”

“NO!” Rune thundered.

Twilight’s face turned even redder than it already was. “Did…you…just…say…no?” She asked in a voice that would make Queen Chrysalis run.

“Yes, I did,” Rune responded, “and I meant it! I’m not going to the dorms…BECAUSE I QUIT!”

“Quit?! What do you mean, quit?!” Twilight demanded.

“I’M SO SICK OF BEING MISTREATED!” Rune shouted, “I GET IT FROM YOU, I GET IT FROM THAT RAT BASTARD, FIRE STREAK, AND I GOT IT FROM THAT PUTRID FASHIONISTA FRIEND OF YOURS TODAY! BUCK YOU AND THIS BUCKING COMPETITION! YOU CAN TAKE THIS RING AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS!”

With that, Rune threw her ring down and departed from the Library.

To be continued…

Episode 5

Previously, on The Princess’s Library: the tension between Rune Stone and Fire Streak reached an all-time high. During a challenge where fashion designer Rarity asked everypony to magically create dresses, some excelled…while others had fashion failure. At the demonstration, things went well enough until Rune Stone began faltering. The pressure finally became too much for the young mare, and she threw her ring down and quit the competition, thus ending her dream of becoming Head Mare at Twilight’s new magic school in Manehattan.

And now, the continuation of The Princess’s Library.

“HEY! LISTEN UP, ALL OF YOU!” Twilight screeched, picking Rune’s ring up and tossing it in the trash, “THAT…is NOT how a proper head of a school behaves. We’re one down, but we’re gonna get stronger. BACK ON YOUR SECTIONS!”

“YES, MAGE!”

“I need the water spells for table 11, Fire Streak!”

“YES, MAGE!” Fire yelled as he continued to send up perfect spells.

“That’s good! Service, please? Pickup, table 11, yes?” Twilight asked, barking out orders like Morse code.

The rest of the demonstration went smoothly, and Twilight called the team together afterwards. She was pleased enough with their performance and told them that they would not have to bother with nominees that evening, considering Rune’s departure. After being dismissed, they returned to the dorms with plenty on their minds. They divided on a line of those who saw Fire Streak as an issue, and those who saw Rune Stone as a cowardly mare. Orange Peel, Zesty Shifts, and Starshine all sided against Fire while Spell Caster, High Tower, and Lock Jaw took up the “coward” theory. It’s not that they were friends with Fire, it’s just that they saw Rune in a different way. Throwing your ring down and giving up, even when the pressure was so immense, was not a good quality in any Head Mare. The ponies all discussed and argued about it for a few hours before falling into a troubled sleep.

The next day, they awoke with the Rune Stone incident fresh on their minds. It was a brand new morning with new possibilities, but they just couldn’t get Rune’s tirade out of their heads. As they went downstairs, it became apparent that Twilight had not gotten it out of her head, either…for there, standing next to her, was Rune Stone herself! The ponies all looked at each other curiously. Hadn’t this been the same pony to give up her spot in the competition? It certainly baffled all of them that Twilight had, apparently, invited her back into the library. But, as they lined up, it became clear that their mage had other plans for the recently departed.

“Rune,” Twilight said, “I cannot accept your behavior from last night.”

“I understand, Princess,” Rune said, “and I want to apologize for it. I just lost my head for a moment.”

“Don’t apologize just to me,” Twilight responded.

Rune turned to her former teammates. “I’m sorry, everypony. I did not act in a way worthy of somepony who deserves Princess Twilight’s job. She called me back here this morning to say my farewells and to make things right with all of you. I disrupted the brewery last night and caused the demonstration to fly off the rails. So, again, I’m sorry and I wish all of you luck in the rest of the competition…well…most of you, anyway.”

She shot a snide look in Fire Streak’s direction. The haughty stallion returned it in full. It seemed that these two would continue their rivalry, even outside of the confines of the library. As Rune left that day, she felt a sense of regret at not remaining and beating Fire at his own game. But she also knew that there would be other chances. She had overheard conversations about where he was from and she was pleased to know that his town was right next to hers. Someday, soon, she’d meet him in magical battle and then they would decide which was the better mage. But for now, she’d continue in her dream of opening up her own magic school in her hometown. She just hoped that her temper tantrum wouldn’t play a major role in anything going forward.

“Alright,” Twilight said as she turned back to the group, “Rune may be gone, but we have to proceed. Today’s challenge is a fun one. I call it ‘Water Spell Mania.” That’s right! You’ll each be given forty-five minutes in the brewery to come up with a classic water spell. It can take any form, be it liquid, solid, or gas. We’re gonna have an expert in this area come in to help judge and the best spell will win a massive reward! Everypony else will be punished. Clear?”

“YES, MAGE!”

“Good! Ready…set…GO!”

The ponies all piled into the brewery to begin crafting their spells. In this challenge, Twilight was looking for great attention to detail. Water spells are some of the most difficult to perform because of the unpredictable nature of the main ingredient. The aqueous liquid could be used in many different ways. It could take the form of a brilliant water feature, with fountains jetting from everywhere. It could also take the form of a gorgeous ice sculpture. There were many, many different possibilities and, as Twilight toured the brewery, she was pleased with the diversity among the spells. Everypony was adding their individual flair to everything, which was exactly what she wanted. However, she was also looking for control and that same detail-oriented aspect.

Soon enough, the time was up, and everypony brought their various spells and concoctions out into the library. Twilight then introduced them to their guest judge, a pony who needed no introduction. She had graduated from Canterlot University with a doctorate degree in water spells and their physics. She was also a very beautiful surfer pony who grew up around water and the beach. Her name was Wave Rider, and at the sight of her sleek blue body, most of the stallions felt their hearts increase a bit. She had eyes to match and a gorgeous, shining mane that reminded everypony of the crystal blue sea.

“Wave, it’s an honor to have you here with us, today,” Twilight said.

“The honor is all mine,” Wave responded, “and I can’t wait to see what these ponies came up with!”

“Okay. So, Wave and I will be judging the spells on a scale of one to five. The pony with the most points wins. Let’s go!”

The first one belonged to Orange Peel, who impressed Wave and Twilight with her use of both water and color. She was criticized for adding too much color since the star of the spell was supposed to be water. She scored an 8 out of 10. Next came Starshine, whose waterworks dazzled both Twilight and Wave. She put up a 9 out of 10. Third in line was Zesty. Unfortunately, his attempt at showering both judges with a delightful mist was turned upside down as he’d added way too much water. He nearly drowned them and received a 2 for his efforts. Fire Streak was fourth out of the gate, and his ice sculpture of…well…of himself was warmly received. But he was criticized for sculpting something so arrogantly and not thinking outside of the box. He scored a 7 out of 10. Next came Lock Jaw, who showed off his talents with a spell that created both a gas and some bubbles to go with it. This severely impressed Wave and Twilight, who gave him a 9. Sixth to go was High Tower, who also scored a 9 with her spell to create fog and rain at the same time. Finally, Spell Caster came forward.

“Spell Caster,” Wave said, “what an interesting name.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Spell said respectfully.

“Alright, go ahead,” Twilight said.

So, Spell launched into her spell, an unprecedented three-part concoction that combined the best of all three types of water spells. There was liquid, gas, and ice, and it blew the judges away. They both immediately awarded her a perfect score and the win in the challenge. She was excited, as it was both her first challenge win and her first time shining during the competition. For her reward, Twilight told her that she’d be headed off to catch some waves and learn to surf with Wave Rider. For the rest of the team, they’d be spending the next two days endlessly preparing little vials of water for the next demonstration. With that, Wave and Spell trotted off to begin their time together and the others went grumbling into their punishment.

Before they knew it, the time had come for the next demonstration. The pressure was on, and everyone seemed on edge. They were so on edge, in fact, that they treated Spell Caster with malice when she returned. It seemed that preparing vials of water was not as much fun as actually surfing and swimming in it. But they did not have time to consider this any longer, for Twilight stood at the head of the brewery and told Comet Tail to open up the library. When the sous mage did, the competitors were surprised to find…foals, along with their parents. The little ponies all noisily ran into the library, overtaking Comet and Astral and making their way towards various tables. These had all been done up with coloring books, toys, and other things that foals enjoy. Twilight couldn’t help but crack a smile at the sight. She hoped to have a foal of her own one day, and the motherly side of her brightened at the adorable display. But there was work to be done, so she snapped out of it and turned to the group.

“Listen up, everypony! Tonight is Family Night here in the library, which means you have some very selective magical palettes to satisfy. No matter how nuts the order may seem, we must satisfy our guests, regardless of their age. Also, since we have little ears here, let’s cut down on the cursing, alright?”

“YES, MAGE!”

“Good! On your stations! Let’s go!”

Soon enough, orders began to fly into the brewery. Since there were so many foals in the library, the evening was marked by many crazy orders. One foal had requested a potion to shoot water like a water gun. So, Zesty, working the water spells, had to coordinate with Orange, on potions, to make it happen. They tried their hardest, but combining the two was something they’d never done before. They finally just sent it up and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, it nearly drowned Twilight, and she turned around and thundered at them. So, they tried again. This time, the potion worked, and Twilight sent it out. More and more of these nutty orders continued to pour in, and the ponies were working double time to satisfy them.

“On order, four ponies, table 45!” Twilight called, “one water spell, one fire spell, and two potions requested to grow petunias and shake the earth all at the same time!”

“YES, MAGE!”

“It can be done, guys! Eight minutes to the window! Let’s go!”

Poor Orange Peel was already overwhelmed enough as it was. It seemed that the foals all had a fascinating preoccupation with her station. Unfortunately, since there were an odd number of competitors left, she was the only one working it. She tried her hardest to get everything right, but a number of orders were returned by Twilight. Things were spiraling out of control, and then Twilight just had to go and call this. Frustratedly, Orange began to work on the order, determined to get it right and get it out. She would not quit like Rune Stone. She was going to make it through!

“Alright, I have the potion for table 45!” She called.

“I’ve got the fire spell!” Spell Caster yelled.

“I’ve got the water!” Zesty shouted.
“Trotting with the spells now!” Orange called as they all three went up to the pass. Twilight took the spells and, while the fire and water were fine, the potion did not grow the right kind of plant. So, Twilight took the potion back to Orange and set it down next to her. Orange took one look at it and knew she was in major trouble. After all, it was about the fourth time Twilight had made a pit stop on her station. Her dream of becoming a Head Mare and making her family proud of her was slowly slipping away. She didn’t want to look at Twilight, because she knew she’d see those same angry, bloodshot eyes.

“Let me whisper something to you,” Twilight said in a voice that would make Tartarus bow and obey, “get out.”

“Oh, but Mage, I-

“I SAID…get out.”

Orange, upset with herself and near tears, gently lay what she’d been working on aside and made her way up to the dorms. What nopony knew about her was that this was her very first opportunity in life. She’d been incredibly sheltered growing up, and her parents taught her that magic was a bad thing. Even though unicorns were born with this incredible gift, they considered it a dark curse on the land. Orange had been made to work on her family’s orange grove and told what to do from day one. She’d secretly entered the competition in order to prove to her family that a career in magic wasn’t farfetched or ridiculous or evil. But now, she saw this dream sliding from her grasp and she wanted nothing more than to grab hold and remain.

Back in the brewery, the orders continued to pile in. The foals, for the most part, seemed content. That is, until one of them sent the fire spell he ordered right back. He wanted it to turn into a flaming dragon. But it turned into a flaming Ursa Major instead. Twilight was very upset at this, especially considering Spell Caster’s earlier performance in the challenge. She demanded that Spell redo the concoction, and the mare did. But this time, it turned into a flaming praying mantis as she’d accidentally allowed the wrong kind of magical manipulation to slip into the spell. Twilight threw her out after this, and she returned to the dorms pissed off and ready to fight for her spot in the competition.

“LISTEN UP, ALL OF YOU!” Twilight shrieked as she finally lost it, “TONIGHT HAS BEEN A DISASTER! YOU’RE ALL AS USELESS AS RATS! BUT I’M NOT GONNA SHUT THIS PLACE DOWN! IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!”

“YES, MAGE!”

The rest of the team managed to come together and send out properly perfected spells. Even the young colt’s fire spell got fixed. It became clear to Twilight that the ponies in front of her were the front runners in the competition. But that didn’t mean that she was happy about their performance as a whole. After the demonstration ended, she ordered Zesty to go get Orange and Spell and bring them down. Once they were there, she demanded that the team head into the brewery and come up with two nominees for elimination. It didn’t take them long, and they nominated both of the ponies who got kicked out of the demonstration. Twilight heartily agreed and called both of them forward.

“Orange, why should you remain in The Princess’s Library?” Twilight growled.

“Mage, I should remain here because I have the heart, the passion, and the determination to win this! I’m ready to be your Head Mare in Manehattan!”

“A good Head Mare is able to put two spells together successfully,” Twilight rebutted, “you were unable to get one bucking potion out this evening, and thus, you disappointed a lot of foals.”

“I know,” Orange said as she started to cry, “I know I did, and it breaks my heart to know that. Disappointing a grown customer is bad enough, but disappointing a foal? It…it just…it hurts.”

“Yeah? Not as much as my bucking head hurts right now,” Twilight said. “Alright, then. Spell…you did so well in the challenge earlier…then you went to the mother bucking beach, came back, and performed like a moron. Tell me. Why should you stay?”

“Mage, I’m ready for this! You haven’t seen half of what I can do yet. The challenge was my first time to shine, and I’m not washed up. This witch here, she’s washed up!”

“Oh, don’t you bucking go there!” Orange said, defending herself, “don’t you bucking go there!”

“Buck you!”

“ENOUGH!” Twilight thundered, shutting them up, “honestly! I know the pressure is real, but I’ve had about enough of this infighting and horse bit! Truthfully, you both should go. But, I’ve made my decision. The pony whose time in the library is overdue…is……………………………Orange Peel. I’m sorry, but your journey here is over.”

Orange was heartbroken, and Twilight could tell. The look in her eyes was as if she’d been keeled over by a freight train. Once more, Twilight’s heart of friendship went out to an eliminated contestant. But she needed to remain firm, and she stuck out a hoof and took the ring from the quivering pony. Then, Orange disappeared through the library doors, never to be seen again. Twilight turned back to the team and angrily dismissed them before heading back to her office. Once again, the cameras followed her.

Twilight’s comment: “Orange was a sweet girl with a great attitude. Unfortunately, sweet girls very often find themselves at the back of the pack. Welcome to the rear, sweetheart. Game over.”

Episode 6

Previously, on The Princess’s Library: After Rune Stone quit the competition, the pressure soared to new heights. During the water spell challenge, Orange Peel and Starshine Manebright impressed. But it was Spell Caster who won, causing sparks to fly between the losers. During the special Family Night demonstration, things quickly went awry thanks to Orange. Her faltering on the potions caused the entire brewery to collapse. Thus, Princess Twilight threw her out, ending her dream of becoming head mare in Manehattan.

And now, the continuation of The Princess’s Library…

All the competitors drug themselves back into the dorms, exhausted from the previous few hours. It had been completely nonstop. Serving impatient, anxious foals was a lot different than serving adults. Although, when they stopped to think about it, the foals could actually be a lot more mature than the grown ponies they served. But there was no time to consider this as everyone seemed to catch a severe case of yawning. This particular sickness is incredibly contagious and one yawn bled over into another. They were too tired to argue among themselves about who was the weakest, a popular pastime. But that didn’t stop small conversations from occurring as they separated into their particular quarters.

“Who do you think’s going next?” High Tower asked Starshine as they readied for bed, “I mean, there are only six of us left!”

“I don’t know, to be honest with you,” Starshine responded.

“If you had to hazard a guess,” High Tower pried.

“Well, if I had to pluck somepony’s name from a hat, I’d probably pick Spell Caster.”

“Interesting,” High said, “why her?”

“Well, you saw how she performed in the last demonstration,” Starshine pointed out, “that, and she’s just been very mediocre for this entire competition. She even said it herself. The water spell challenge was her first time standing out individually. She just gets lost in the crowd too easily. Anyway, that’s what I think. I guess I’ll see ya in the morning.”

“Yeah.”

“‘Night”

High Tower thought about this as she snuggled up under her covers. The warmth felt very soothing to her tired body and she quickly found a small niche to relax in. But her mind just couldn’t stop thinking about things. Spell Caster couldn’t go next. Fire Streak had to be the one to head out those doors. But the last pony who’d tried to sabotage him, Rune Stone, had wound up quitting the competition. If only Fire weren’t so damn great at everything, High thought, if only…

The next morning, everypony ran downstairs in excited anticipation of whatever challenge Twilight would throw at them. They all felt more than capable and more than ready. After all, they were the final six. The absolute best of the best that Twilight’s brewery had to offer. Each of them felt a wondrous sense of pride and honor at the distinction. Even if they didn’t win, they knew that being here would be a tremendous boon to their magical careers. But, that being said, each of them also held a fierce hunger and a desire to win. None of this was squelched by anything, even the awesomely intimidating presence of their mage as she stood awaiting their arrival.

“Good morning!” Twilight barked as soon as they lined up.

“Good morning, mage!”

“Now, as you know, here in my library, the unexpected should always be thought of and remembered. Nopony is ever ‘safe’ in here. You all stand on doorways that will drop you into doom laden pits…and I hold the key for each one. Today, one of those doors will unlock, and the ponies that get to decide who is on the chopping block…are you. I’m gonna give you two minutes as a team. Go into the brewery and return with two names. These are the weak links of the team…and the ensuing challenge will determine who stays and who gets their rump tossed. Understood?!”

“YES, MAGE!” The ponies responded.

“Good! Off you go!”

The ponies trotted into the brewery, stunned at Twilight’s revelation. Whoever lost the upcoming one-on-one challenge would be forced to give up their ring forever! It was a difficult decision. Obviously, nopony wanted to volunteer to be in it. So, each one made their case for why they were a strong and valuable team player. Even Fire Streak, arrogant bastard that he was, created a narrative of caring about the team and everyone on it. He did pepper it with small flecks of his normal self-aggrandizement, but overall, it was probably the most humble anypony had ever seen him. But soon enough, their two minutes was up, and they’d come up with two ponies. Needless to say, these ponies were incredibly hurt by the decision and a fire grew deep within them. They were going to battle and win no matter what.

“Alright,” Twilight said, “Starshine…who are the two ponies?”

“We’ve selected Spell Caster and Zesty Shifts.”

“Interesting,” Twilight said, “can you give me a little insight as to how the decision was made?”

“Well, we feel like Zesty is better in challenges than as a member of the team during the demonstrations,” Starshine explained, “and Spell just tends to get lost in the crowd.”

“That’s horse bit,” Spell said.

“How so?” Twilight asked.

“I am one of the strongest, most experienced magic users here. I mean, as a very young foal, I was doing magic on a high level. You cannot discount that.”

“Spell, this has nothing to do with your experience,” High Tower said, remembering her conversation with Starshine the previous night, “it’s simply what we need as a team right now. If we’re going to succeed, we need to dump the weaker ponies.”

“Oh, buck you,” Spell snarled, “I’m not weak.”

“Then, prove it!” High exclaimed, “the mage is giving you a chance, so bucking prove it!”

“High Tower’s right,” Twilight said, “Spell Caster, if you feel like you aren’t a weak part of the team, then prove it by winning the upcoming challenge. Speaking of which, that will start right now. Zesty, Spell, please step forward.”

The two came forward, quivering with both anger and determination. They were eager to prove themselves to their mage. Each one held a covetous relationship with their ring and they were desperate to keep it. They’d go to any lengths to help themselves retain their spot in the competition. The head stallion/mare position in Manehattan flashed before their eyes as they stood under the mind crushingly stern gaze of their mage. But not even Twilight could break their spirits. They stood their ground, silently letting the princess know that they were both ready and willing.

“I see the passion in your eyes,” Twilight said, “and it’s very inspiring. BUT, this is my library, and in here, passion exerts itself within the spell. Understood?”

“YES, MAGE!” The two barked.

“Good. Now, then, the following challenge is called Spell or Hell,” Twilight said, “each of you will have to execute four of the spells off of our normal demonstration menu: a gaseous water spell, a mid-flame fire spell, an earth spell that will move a 50 pound boulder, and a potion that changes the color of one’s mane to blue. The winner of this challenge keeps their ring and moves on to the next stage of the competition. The loser will be sent packing. Are you ready?!”

“YES, MAGE!”

“On your mark, get set…GO!”

To be continued…

Episode 7