Corruption

The Royal Chanterlot Library was a place that Arone had dreamed of going to. Yes, he was aware that it made him incredibly boring but after spending your life in a hive with nothing to do, reading stories about adventures and a better life is pretty nice. Arone held the scroll containing the library books his new leader needed. He was still new to the job. Had only been "employed" for a few weeks and the Gala was coming closer and closer.

He trotted into the dark large library. The moonlight coming from the large glass ceiling, lighting up the large hourglass in the middle of the circular room and the thousands of books lining the shelves around it. He focused on the lone figure of a unicorn mare with a messy brown mane with a ponytail and a short tail with peach fur.

She had pushed up her glasses and adjusted the dark red scarf she was wearing as she skimmed through a book on the table surrounding the large hourglass. She adjusted the lamp next to her with her magic and then resumed her reading.

"Are you going to stand there like an idiot or are you going to tell me why you are here?" The mare asked with a breathy voice. He pushed down his immediate irritation at her attitude.

"I am here with some book requests from Princess Celestia. Who are you exactly?" He asked. She shrugged and closed her book before turning around to face him. Using her magic to allow the lamp to follow her towards the visitor.

"I am the Chaterlot Library Librarian. My name is Bini Filters." She replied.

"Th-That is kind of a stupid name." Arone blurted out with a repressed chuckle. Bini scowled at him as she trotted closer to him.

"And you are suspicious. You came out of the Catacombs with the Princess a few weeks ago. Before that, I haven't found any records of anypony named "Arone" before that time. Yes. I do know your name. No. It isn't creepy. But that is all I know about you. Who the hell are you?"

"Arone. Do I really need to say anymore?"

Bini smirked and took the scroll of Arone's grasp. She quickly scanned the page before looking back at him with a neutral expression.

"Yes. Because if you don't tell me the truth. You won't get your books." Bini threatened. She looked back at the list with a raised eyebrow. "Why does she need...20 medical books? Now that is concerning..."

Arone ripped it away from her and slammed his hoof down.

"Look, the Princess. Princess Celestia. The sun Princess-"

"I know who she is. I don't live in the sea. Can we move this along? I don't have all night."

"She needs the damn books OK!?" Arone snapped. Quickly losing his patience. Bini glared at him with a suspicious gaze as she disappeared into the nearest bookshelf. "She only needs-"

"Forty-six. I can count. This might take me a few minutes...or hours. Depends on how much information you give me. So, why did you take the job as the Princess's Personal Assistant?"

"Because I needed a job." Arone mumbled as he moved to follow her as she searched for the books.

"Alright. I will accept that. Why did you come out of the catacombs with the Princess? No pony, but the Princess is EVER in there. How come you just showed up with no records or identity! Your name is just as stupid as mine!" Bini complained as she pulled a few books down and looked through the titles before putting one into a basket she was also bringing along.

"My name is normal where I come from! And I was in the Catacombs because I got lost!" Arone defended. Bini started laughing and wiped tears from her eyes as she looked back at him with a wide smile.

"One does not simply walk into a maze built into a mountain!"

"Well...I did!"

"You are so stupid! SO STUPID!! Ha! HA!" Bini said as she continued to have fits of laughter. "That is the most stupid thing I have heard all week. Well, I don't actually see many ponies...Or talk to them..." Bini said, starting to trail off with a faraway look in her eyes. Arone stared at her with a small sense of pity.

"OK. That...Was sad. Can you please just get me the books?"

Bini nodded and mumbled under her breath as she galloped off. Returning a few minutes later with a basket full of forty-six books. She silently handed them to Arone and stared at him with narrowed eyes.

"I will figure out what your deal is because something is very wrong here. I will be watching you."

Arone chuckled nervously and quickly galloped out. Being slightly creeped out by the librarian.

Celestia sipped her tea. Embracing the much needed small moment of silence she had from the voice. From the pain. She watched the fire flicker in the fireplace in her bedroom. Occasionally using her wing to pet Philomena next to her who was snuggled under her wing. The large double doors opened from the corridor to reveal Arone carrying a large basket of books with his magic. Looking irritated.

Celestia took another sip and gestured to Arone to sit beside her on her carpet. He accepted and sat down beside her, setting the books between them and watched the fire.

"Have you ever met the Librarian?" Arone asked as Celestia levitated one of the books over to her and started to skim through it.

"I have seen her around. Luna hired her as her first official action as a Princess was to hire a new Librarian. Twilight used to organize it as a part-time job with the help of one of the teachers at my school but the teacher retired and Twilight moved to Ponyville. I have never actually talked to her. I mostly just see her walking around the Library working." Celestia explained. "I assume you met her. How was she?"

"Honestly? I think she needs help. She became pretty obsessed about who I was based on seeing us leave the Catacombs a few weeks ago. I think she had been watching me."

"Why do you say that?"

"She knows that my name is Arone. She knows that I have no history from before a few weeks ago and she made a point to add that she doesn't know anything else about me. Is that creepy or what?"

"It is strange. Do you know her name?"

"Bini Filters."

"All strange names have a story behind them. I wonder what hers is." Celestia pondered.

"Her story better be good because she hounded me about my life in that Library. What happens if she figures out that I am a changeling? What happens when she-Wait. She probably doesn't have any friends. Based on the information I got from her. She doesn't seem to have any." Arone explained. Celestia smiled towards her assistant.

"Maybe you can be her friend?"

"M-Me?"

"It might make your transition easier into pony society. Everypony needs a friend." Celestia said in her signature motherly voice. Arone rolled his eyes and let down his disguise to be a normal changeling. Wearing his disguises causes a drain of his magic. Celestia used her magic to lock the door to make sure no pony would enter uninvited.

"Not everypony. Besides, she annoys me. A lot. If I become friends with her, she might figure out my secret!"

"Maybe. But if she is your friend, she would be able to accept it. It doesn't matter who you are on the outside. It matters who you are on the inside." Celestia pointed out. Arone groaned.

"You see the best in everypony. That might be a mistake sometimes. For example. Seeing the best in Bini Filters." Arone argued.

"Just try."

"Speaking of trying. Princess Luna has requested dance lessons from you."

"What are you saying, Arone?"

"She is trying her best to dance in the ballroom right now. You should go stop her. I would usually never insult dancing but...Well, you should probably see for yourself."

Celestia's eyes widened in alarm and she immediately scrambled up. Arone put his disguise back on as Celestia thanked him and galloped out of the door. Arone organized the scattered books before putting an alarmed Philomena back on her perch before leaving Celestia's chambers.

Bini Filters watched at the entrance of the ballroom in horror. She never felt pure horror until she witnesses Luna dance for the first time in one thousand years. Slow music was playing. But Luna was flailing around like Celestia seeing a chicken. Only the staff of Chanterlot castle knew about the chicken incident and they would take it to their grave. It was a very strange event.

Bini could move her jaw, which was currently dropped even as Celestia raced past her and Arone came to a stop beside Bini and Celestia tried to salvage what dignity her sister had left when passing guards noticed the weird scene.

"Maybe we should close the door?" Arone suggested with a whisper. Bini just made a strange strangled cry as she continued to stare at the sisters. Celestia started showing Luna small movements on how to improve. Luna occasionally stumbled but Bini couldn't get the image of Luna failing around.

"Bini? Bini?" Arone called out to the unicorn. "OK. That's it."

Arone lifted his back leg and gave her a swift kick. Which knocked her down in a very unflattering way. But it did snap her out of it. Her face hit the floor and she swore. Loud.

She immediately stood up and growled at Arone.

"What was that for!?" She demanded.

"You are gawking at them like they are covered in cake!"

"That would be better than whatever the heck that is!" Bini pointed out, pointing her hoof towards the sisters. "That was like the chicken incident!"

"The chicken incident?" Arone questioned.

"It involves Princess Celestia. A whole bunch of chickens and a story that everypony in this staff will take to their grave." Bini explained. "It will scare you to the grave."

"Slightly concerned. So, anyway. We got off on the wrong hoof-"

"If this is your attempt to restart our rather bad introduction. Fine." Bini said. She held out her hoof towards him. "Hello. I am Bini Filters."

"Hello." Arone said with a smile. Shaking her hoof. "My name is Arone. May I ask why your name is Bini Filters?"

"My parents named me after a family joke. I don't even get it. They have explained it to me but...I just didn't get it. What about your name? Arone?"

"My mother gave me the name because she ran out of options. I have a lot of siblings." Arone explained. Bini gave him a smirk and looked back at the sisters.

"It seems like life screwed us at birth there, bud." She said, elbowing him. He chuckled as the music started to speed up. "I do have a rather...Strange question though."

"Is this another question about my life?" Arone asked. Bini shook her head.

"No. No. This is an observational question about Princess Celestia. Did you ever notice that she talks to that weird statue in the garden a few times a week. Almost every day actually. Talks to it from minutes to hours. Any idea what that is about?" Bini asked.

"OK. She talks to the statue because she is lonely. Or because she likes it. Honestly, I prefer the first option."

"WAIT!" Bini came on the verge of shouting. "Discord!"

"Um...Who?"

"Discord! Lord of Chaos! He was turned into a statue more than one thousand years ago by Celestia and Luna! Do you never read history!?" Bini explained. Arone blinked a few moments. Waiting for her to continue with whatever tangent she was on. "Why do I get the feeling you have no idea what I am talking about?"

"Am I supposed to know?"

"I expected...A little intelligence but I can work with this."

"EXCUSE ME?"

"It is obvious that Celestia liked or likes him!" Bini insisted.

"How the heck did you get to that conclusion?" Arone asked.

"They have history. And based on her wasting her precious time at the statue. It is a logical conclusion." Bini said with a shrug.

"No. It is not. If we use that logic then Celestia should be in love with every stallion in Equestria...Or mare."

"Well! DO you have a better explanation!?" Bini asked.

"N-No."

"Then let's research."

"I-Is that code for spying on royalty?"

"I suppose it is." Bini replied. "Oh! This is going to be so fun!"

"This must be a sick joke or something."

Bini chuckled as she used her magic to close the door. Leaving the sisters to practice and the mutual acquaintances and maybe friends to argue about the morals of spying. Both lost and won.

---End of Chapter Seven---