Equestria Ninjas: The Point of No Return

Chapters

Overdue Book
The Search for Dusty Pages
Making Things Right

Overdue Book

Spike sat outside the School of Friendship one morning, reading a Power Ponies comic, when a noise caught his attention. He looked back, "Whoa!" He quickly ducked as Derpy the mailmare flew in and crashed-landed, spilling envelopes everywhere. "Twilight, mail's here!" He called.

Twilight came out, along with Leo and Bright Eyes, and they gasped at the sight before them. Derpy had run into one of the lamp posts before she slid to the ground.

"What happened here?" Leo asked.

Twilight turned to Derpy, "Are you all right?"

Derpy got up and rolled up a big box she had been carrying before she crashed, "We just had a really heavy delivery today," she said.

"Whoa, that's a big box," Bright Eyes stated. "What's in there?"

Spike quickly ran up to it in excitement and guessed out loud, "Is it a deluxe set of special edition Ogres & Oubliettes figurines that I'm totally surprised by and have been hinting that I need forever?" He asked, hugging the box.

"Well, it's for Twilight," Derpy answered.

"Awww..." Spike sighed in disappointment.

"For the record, figurines wouldn't come in a box this big," Bright Eyes noted.

"Thank you," Twilight thanked Derpy.

"You're welcome!" The grey pegasus replied, flying off.

Twilight Sparkle read the box's label, "Huh. It's from Princess Celestia."

Spike suddenly belched out a scroll, "So is this," he said, before questioning, "Really? She couldn't have put it into the box?"

Leo shrugged, "Whadda gonna do?"

Twilight took the scroll and read, "My dearest Twilight, I have been conducting a thorough cleaning of the castle, and I came across a few items of yours in your old room. I thought you might want them back." She paused, "I didn't even know I'd left anything!" She opened the box which was filled with books, scrolls, and other belongings. "Awww, look! Remember this?" She levitated out an old picture frame. "It's the macaroni picture frame Cadance helped me make when I was a filly!"

The frame, which was a family picture of herself, her parents, Shining Armor, and Spike, had only a bunch of elbow noodles glued to the frame. One of noodles fell off.

"It's... uh... very nice, Twilight," Leo said, trying to be polite.

Spike rolled his eyes, "Who could forget a masterpiece like that?" He said in quiet sarcasm, before Twilight roughly pushed the frame into his chest with an annoyed frown.

Twilight then levitated out a small figurine of Star Swirl the Bearded, "My G1 Star Swirl figure!"

Bright Eyes gasped in delight, "A G1 Star Swirl figure?! Their so rare!"

Twilight rolled her eyes in amusement and handed it to her, before levitating a bunch of scrolls. "And some of my favorite school scrolls!" She absent-mindedly dumped them onto Spike. "And here's my extra extra credit report on "The Impediments of Using Magic in Everyday Chores"!" She read it and laughed, "Ha! Still so true!"

"Is my Smash Fortune comic in there?" Spike asked, climbing onto the edge of the box. "I've been looking for that for years. Whoa, whoa!" He lost his balance and fell inside. Then he held up a old book, "Hold this."

Twilight glanced at the book, "Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!" She cried in a panic, grabbing it.

"Twilight?" Bright Eyes looked at her in surprise.

"What's wrong?" Leo asked.

"That's just an old library book," Spike noted.

"Exactly!" Twilight exclaimed. "It belongs to the Canterlot Library! That means it's..." she opened the book and flipped through the pages until she found the checkout card, which didn't have a return check mark."Overdue!" She finished in dread.

"It's not that big a deal, Twilight," Leo assured her.

"You don't understand, Leo, I have a perfect library book return record!" Twilight retorted.

Bright Eyes cleared her throat, "Well, had a perfect record."

Twilight groaned, "I've never turned in a book even a minute late! And this one has been overdue since I left for Ponyville!" She flashed back to that very day.

Back when she was just Celestia's student, she had checked it out along with two other books.

The librarian, Dusty Pages, stamped each one and spoke, "Make sure you bring this one back on time. We've got a long waiting list of ponies who can't wait to read it."

"I promise I won't let you down!" Twilight assured her.

"Oh, of course, you won't, dear," Dusty winked. "If there's anypony I can trust to take care of a book, it's you, Twilight Sparkle. After all, you still hold the "Best Book Borrower" title." She motioned to a big framed picture of Twilight on the wall next to her. The purple unicorn had a big smile while holding a book.

"Oooh!" Twilight blushed with pride. "I hope I do forever!"

But a few days later, after she had read about the history of Nightmare Moon and the Elements of Harmony, she was looking around her tower library. "Sp-ike!" She called. "Quick, find me that old copy of Predictions and Prophecies." She noticed a crumpled present stuck to his tail. "What's that for?"

"Well, it was a gift for Moon Dancer, but..." Spike began, taking off the present as the gift fell out.

"Oh, Spike, you know we don't have time for that sort of thing," Twilight frowned, tossing some books aside, unknowingly shoving the library book under one of the shelves.

"And then Celestia sent me to Ponyville, and I forgot all about this!" Twilight exclaimed. "Dusty Pages prided herself that no books were damaged or lost on her watch, and I failed her! I failed myself!"

"Twilight, you just made a mistake," Leo tried to calm her down.

"One I have to fix right now!"

"I take it we're going to Canterlot?" Spike guessed. Instead of answering, Twilight quickly pack the book into her saddlebag and flew off almost as fast as Rainbow Dash.

"That's a yes," Bright Eyes said dryly.

Spike groaned, "The sooner, the better, I guess."

Leo sighed, "I hope Twilight doesn't stress herself out too much."

Soon the four arrived at the Canterlot Library. But as soon as they got there, Twilight gasped before she dove into a nearby bush, dragging Spike, Leo, and Bright Eyes with her.

"Twilight, why are we hiding?" Leo asked, a bit annoyed.

"Don't you wanna return your book?" Bright Eyes added.

"Yes. But what if somepony sees me in there?" Twilight said. "I'm the Princess of Friendship. Everywhere I go, ponies recognize me. I'll stick out like a sore hoof."

"Princess Twilight Sparkle in a library? Stop the presses!" Spike joked.

"A late book is a big deal, Spike," Twilight stated. "What if Dusty Pages revokes my library card?" She levitated out her card to show them. "Or bans me from ever entering the building again?!"

"I'm pretty sure that won't happen," Leo stated.

"And don't you already have most of those books in your collection at home?" Spike asked, as he, Leo, and Bright Eyes walked out of the bush.

"Yes, but the ones in there have a special Canterlot Library-y smell!" Twilight explained.

Bright Eyes stared, "You sniff books?" She raised a brow.

"You don't?" Twilight asked.

A passing unicorn stopped when she saw Twilight in the bush and backed away, weirded out.

"Uh, no!" Bright Eyes said. "I love books but not that much."

"I used to live in a library," Twilight went on. "If I'm not a good example of proper book borrowing behavior, then what kind of princess am I?"

"One that makes mistakes like everypony else," Spike assured her. "Trust me. Once you return that book, you'll feel way better."

"Thanks, Spike," Twilight smiled, walking out of the bush. "Let's go!" But then she screamed and jumped back in as another unicorn passed by. After that, she gave a nervous giggle before the four headed inside the library.

As they entered, Twilight began teleporting to different spots in the library. She appeared behind a pillar, at a round table in the center, then under another table where two ponies were reading.

Leo spoke to the others, "I'm glad she's keeping her stealth training up to date, but I feel it's unnecessary at this moment." As they approached the checkout desk, he froze as the unicorn mare behind it looked like a certain acapella singer he met. "Belle Harmony?"

Belle Harmony's pony counterpart looked up, "Uh, yes? Can I help you?"

While that was happening, Twilight had teleported to the desk before she gasped, then levitated a potted plant to hide her face and spoke in a deep voice, "I have a book to return."

Belle however recognized her, "Princess Twilight! So good to see you!" Twilight groaned and lowered the plant as Belle continued. "Need some recommendations from the new release section?" She motioned to some books on a cart.

Twilight gasped, "Is that the new edition of Mooncurve's Seven Theories on Bending Time? I have been waiting for the release since—" Spike tapped her on the shoulder, reminding her about the task at hoof. "Uh, I mean, uh, no books today! Thanks!" All the ponies in the library gasped at that, as it was very unlike Twilight Sparkle to turn down a book. "But I do need to speak with Dusty Pages about a..." she cleared her throat. "Sensitive matter."

"Dusty who?" Belle asked in confusion.

Twilight gave a nervous laugh before she inquired, "Dusty Pages? The head librarian? She's worked here forever." She showed Belle a picture of the said librarian.

"I'm sorry, princess. I don't know her," Belle shrugged. "Now, was there some other way I can help the library's Best Book Borrower?" She pointed at the framed portrait of Twilight. The portrait had since collected dust and cobwebs which Belle quickly brushed away with a duster, revealing the smiling picture of Twilight.

The alicorn gave a nervous chuckle as she was no longer worthy of that title now.

Spike flew up next to her, while hidden behind a comic book, "Just ask where to return an overdue book! It's no big deal! It happens all the time!" He said in a hushed tone.

"Yeah," Bright Eyes chimed in. "It's happened to me a few times."

"Not to me it doesn't!" Twilight hissed back.

"Twilight it doesn't matter, you have to return that book, that's why we came here, remember," Leo reminded her.

"Fine," Twilight sighed in defeat, before suddenly crying out, "Fine! Oh no! I didn't even think about the late fine! A book out this long will probably cost a thousand bits!"

Spike just took out the book and placed it on the desk, "She— I mean, we have an overdue book."

"And she's been uh really anxious to return it," Bright Eyes put it lightly.

Belle laughed, "Well, that's no problem at all. In fact, it happens all the time."

"Told you," Bright Eyes and Spike muttered to Twilight.

"I'll just find it in the card catalog," Belle began, levitating out some cards and looking through them. "Uh, number one-eight-nine-oh-five, got it!" Her eyes widened as she read the card. "Oh, wow. Yeesh!" She cringed. "I haven't seen a book this late in... well, ever." She cleared her throat and spoke to Twilight with a serious expression. "You'll need to go and see First Folio in the Grossly Overdue Book Return Office for Ponies Who Should Know Better."

"Don't pull any punches with those names, do you?" Twilight stated nervously.

"And that office would be...?" Leo asked, dryly.

"In the basement," Belle answered, before adding in a whisper, "Because of the shame."

This caused Twilight to face-plant on the desk and Leo to face-palm, knowing that none of that was going to help Twilight's worrying.

Soon they were all walking down a dim and dank hallway.

"Well, this place is very welcoming," Bright Eyes said in slight sarcasm.

Spike ran into a cobweb and got his wings stuck. "Whoa!" He struggled a bit until he pulled himself free. "Looks like nopony ever goes down here."

"Nopony except undependenable rule-breakers who deserve all the horrors this hallway holds!" Twilight lamented.

"And their faithful dragon companions," Spike added.

"Not really helping, Spike," Leo stated. But as they reached a door at the end of the hall, he noticed something on it. "Looks like First Folio left a note?"

"Abandon Hope, all ye who enter?" Twilight guessed glumly.

Spike flew over and read the note, "Out to lunch on Restaurant Row." He shrugged. "Guess we'll have to try back later." He turned to leave when Twilight stopped him.

"Oh no. I can't wait another minute to return this book. In the time it took us to get here, I racked up another..." She did a quick calculation before she exclaimed, "Seventeen bits in late fees! We're going to lunch."

"Good, cause I'm starving," Spike licked his lips before Twilight, Leo, and Bright Eyes gave him knowing looks. "Oh! You meant to find First Folio."

"Duh," Bright Eyes stated and the three ran off.

"Can we at least get take out?" Spike asked as he flew after.

The group entered a Indian themed restaurant known as The Tasty Treat.

"Tell me if you see any librarian-type ponies," Twilight instructed everyone.

"Twilight, we tried this at three other restaurants already!" Spike pointed out.

"And my late fines are already up another twenty-six more bits!" Twilight rebuked and began looking around while Spike gave a short sob.

While they looked around, Leo couldn't help but admire the Indian decore. "This place is pretty neat."

"And the food's even better," Bright Eyes told him. "I had lunch with Lancer here once." She gave a slight blush. "Uh, you know! Just between friends." She smiled sheepishly.

"Right..." Leo smirked.

Bright Eyes quickly changed the subject. "Hey! Did you know that Professors Rarity and Pinkie Pie solved a friendship problem here?"

Meanwhile, Spike walked by a table where two ponies sat, one of them called Pretzel spoke to him, "Waiter, we're ready to order."

Spike looked to make sure she wasn't talking to anypony else. "Oh, uh, I'm not actually—" he tried to explain but Pretzel cut him off.

"Three samosas, two curry specials... Do you think that's enough for the two of us?" She asked, motioning to herself and her friend.

"Hm," Spike took out a pencil and notepad. "Well, I would probably order some naan as well. For the table?"

"Sounds great," Pretzel smiled.

Twilight, Leo, and Bright Eyes watched the scene with a mixed expressions. Bright Eyes thought it was funny that Spike was confused for a waiter, Leo looked puzzeled, while Twilight had a dry look, when she heard somepony call, "Twilight? Is that you?" She turned and saw it was her old friend Moon Dancer.

"Moon Dancer! How've you been?" She said as they approached her.

"Oh, who are these two?" Moon Dancer motioned to Leo and Bright Eyes.

"These are my friends, Leonardo, and Bright Eyes," Twilight introduced.

"Hello," Bright Eyes greeted.

"Nice to meet, Moon Dancer," Leo shook her hoof.

"Likewise," Moon Dancer replied, then she spoke to Twilight. "So what brings you here?"

"I'm just visiting," Twilight said, hiding her nervousness. "No real reason. Heh."

"Well, it's good to see you! I'm just meeting my friend, First Folio, for lunch," Moon Dancer pointed to a cream colored unicorn with rectangle glasses and a purple mane. "Do you want to join us?"

"First Folio?! Yes!" Twilight cheered. "I mean, thank you."

"Well that was convenient," Leo whispered to Bright Eyes.

"Princess Twilight, good to meet you!" First Folio greeted, as the princess and her friends took a seat. "Did you know your picture is still up in our library as the Best Book Borrower?"

"Yeah... I was hoping I could talk to Dusty Pages about that," Twilight said, nervously.

"Oh, Dusty Pages left the library moons ago," Moon Dancer stated. "Didn't you know?"

"Mm-mm," Twilight shook her head.

"That explains why we didn't see her there," Bright Eyes noted before asking, "So why isn't she at the library anymore?"

First Folio answered sounding dismal, "Oh, I heard she was forced to leave. It's so sad. She loved the library."

"Wait. Forced to leave?" Twilight asked in disbelief.

"Yuh-huh, uh-huh, yeah." First Folio nodded.

"Why was she forced to leave?" Leo asked.

"Well, she had a perfect librarian record," First Folio explained then frowned in disappointment, "Until one careless pony didn't return a book, ruined it all."

Leo and Bright Eyes glanced at each other with the same worried expression as they had a pretty good idea who the 'careless pony' was. And so did somepony else.

"Are you okay, Twilight?" Moon Dancer asked her friend in concern.

Twilight looked anything but okay. Her eyes were wide and she was sweating up a storm. "Uh-huh," she muttered nervously. "Would, uh, you excuse me?" And with that, she raced away from the table.

"Uh, we'd better be going too," Leo said.

"Nice meeting you," Bright Eyes waved, then she and Leo hurried after the fleeing alicorn.

Spike, now wearing a frilly apron, was delivering food to another pony's table, when Twilight sped past him followed by Leo and Bright Eyes, making him spin around for a moment.

"That's why you only order spicy if you can take it," he said to the pony, placing her food on the table. Then he threw off the apron and ran after his friends outside. "Twilight, what's wrong?"

"Look, Twilight, we know what your thinking...," Leo began, trying to ease her.

"But-But let's not jump to conclusions," Bright Eyes chimed in.

"Jump to what conclusion?" Spike asked.

Twilight turned to her assistant, her face full of guilt, "Dusty Pages isn't working at the library any more because I didn't return this book!" She held out the book. "Spike, I think I got her fired!"

"And you jumped to that conclusion," Bright Eyes sighed.

The Search for Dusty Pages

Twilight ran through the Canterlot streets, with Leo, Bright Eyes, and Spike following close behind. After learning what happened to Dusty Pages, she'd become racked with guilt, feeling that her little mistake cost somepony her job. And a fellow book lover at that too.

As they ran, Spike stopped and called out, "Twilight, the library is that way!" He pointed down a street. But when the alicorn didn't stop, he frowned and flew to catch up.

"Change of plans!" Twilight explained. "We're going to Dusty's house. She used to invite me over for tea all the time."

"But what about your late fees," Bright Eyes reminded her.

"Their not as important as making things right," Twilight replied.

"So you're not gonna return the book?" Leo asked.

"No. Dusty Pages is," Twilight stated. "It's my fault she lost her job. So if I give her the book, she can get her old job back. It'll fix everything.

"Well, if your sure," Leo relented, as they passed under an arched bridge and arrived at a small house.

But then he noticed a lot of signs posted outside the house, and none of them were welcoming signs.

Before he could say anything however, Twilight knocked on the door. But the pony who answered it was not Dusty Pages. It was a big, light blue stallion, with a spikey orange mane, who Bright Eyes thought looked like an older version of her brother Teddy.

The stallion didn't look happy to see them. "Didn't you see the sign?" He asked gruffly, pointing to one of the signs. "No salesponies!"

"Oh, we're not selling anything," Twilight began but the pony cut her off.

"No carolers either," he pointed to another sign. "No surveys, no petitions, no free literature..." After that, he tried to close the door, but Leo blocked it with his hoof and forced it back open.

"We're sorry to disturb you, sir," he said. "But we're NONE of those things."

"Obviously," Bright Eyes chimed in.

"We're just looking for somepony who used to live here," Twilight explained. "I'm pretty sure this was her house."

"Dusty Pages?" The pony asked.

Twilight gave a double take, "Yes!"

"Hold on," the pony went inside and came back carrying a mail bag." She moved to... Silver somethin'. Shoals, Seas, Surfer, whatever. When you find her, give her this." And he dumped a pile of mail all over Spike. "It's been stackin' up for years. And tell her to CHANGE HER ADDRESS!" He shouted, slamming the door.

"Isn't he a ray of sunshine," Bright Eyes frowned.

"No kidding," Spike agreed, popping out of the pile.

"So... how many places in Equestria have the name Silver?" Leo asked Twilight.

Twilight levitated out a map and answered, "A lot."

So the four traveled across Equestria, while Spike carried the mailbag, checking every town and place named Silver, or places that were near the sea, in hopes that they would find Dusty Pages.

First, they stopped by two houses and Twilight showed Dusty's picture to the two mares that lived there, asking if they had seen Dusty Pages or where to find her, but neither one knew anything about the librarian.

So she crossed off the spot on the map.

Next they searched around a shoreline. Bright Eyes told Leo that Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie had a sailing mishap there, when a creature called a tri-horned bunuip accidentally capsized their boat and that the three had blamed each other for the incident before Twilight fixed the situation.

Leo said it reminded him of when human Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie went for a sail during their time at the beach, which also ended in disaster.

When they saw no sign of Dusty, Twilight checked off that spot as well.

They next went into a silver mine and showed Dusty's picture to the miner stallion, who also didn't know who Dusty Pages was.

Back at the School, Silverstream was chatting with Gallus and Smolder, when she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to find Twilight and Bright Eyes standing behind her. Twilight showed her Dusty's picture, but Silverstream just shrugged.

"Told you she wouldn't know," Bright Eyes said to the alicorn.

Finally, they all arrived at a large building that was near a shoreline, as Twilight read the sign. "Silver Stable Community: For the best golden years. This has to be it!"

"I hope so," Spike said, taking out the map. "It's the last "Silver" spot on the map we haven't looked."

"Well, let's start asking if anyone's seen Dusty," Leo stated.

As they all went inside , Spike struggled with the mailbag, getting tired from carrying it around all over Equestria, when he glanced around, "Whoa! This place is—"

"Terrible, I know!" Twilight cut him off.

"What?" Leo asked in confusion. "How is it terrible?"

"There's not a single bookshelf in sight!" Twilight answered. "Poor Dusty..."

"Well, not everypony are as in to books," Bright Eyes stated.

They arrived at the front desk and Twilight spoke to the receptionist mare, "Excuse me?"

"Yes, how may I help you?" The receptionist, Teddie Safari, asked.

"Do you have a resident named Dusty Pages?" Twilight inquired.

"Oh, yes," Teddie Safari nodded. "Her apartment is in the next complex, ground floor."

"Thank you!" Twilight smiled as they headed off. Soon, they were walking down a line of apartments. Each of the doors had a framed picture of their owners. "I can't believe that my carelessness sent her here, when she could be happily surrounded by millions of wonderful-smelling books!"

"You realize that might just be a you thing, right?" Spike noted.

"Yeah," Bright Eyes added.

Leo glanced at one of the apartment doors they passed, when he noticed Dusty's picture was on it, "Guys, I found her!" He called.

Twilight gasped, "There she is! Here we go." She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. But Dusty didn't answer. She and the others waited. And waited. Twilight checked a pocket watch.

"I don't think she's home," Bright Eyes said and Twilight let out an exasperated groan.

"She's bound to be back soon," Spike assured. "Maybe we should just wait here."

"No. We are fixing this now," Twilight said firmly. "This place isn't that big. We can find her."

"The sooner the better, I suppose," Leo said.

After that, they arrived at a wooden dock where three ponies were painting. One of them was Apple Rose, a member of the Apple Family.

Twilight spoke to them, "Sorry to interrupt your plein air painting, but we're looking for Dusty Pages. Have you seen her?"

"Sure have!" Apple Rose said then went back to painting.

After a beat, Twilight let out a breath, "And...?"

"She had to leave early to get to her fengbi de ti session," Apple Rose explained.

"Which is right before she leads the woodworking class with me," an old stallion added. "Then she's on to windsurfing.

"Ooh, and don't forget theatre rehearsal!" Apple Rose continued. "Dusty's playing the lead role. Again." She frowned in envy.

"Then there's her band practice later," the old stallion finished.

"Thank you!" Twilight said and they turned back.

"Wow," Spike was impressed. "Dusty sounds like one busy pony."

"You can say that again," Leo agreed.

"And I thought I had a busy schedule," Bright Eyes commented.

Twilight had a different opinion, "Oh, she's just filling her days with distractions to cover the pain of losing the best job ever! But not for long!"

Three ponies stood on their hind legs, doing some movements when Twilight, Leo, Bright Eyes, and Spike came and showed them Dusty's picture.

One of the ponies, Pearly Whites, shook her head and pointed at a swinging gate, saying that Dusty had just left. Twilight lowered her head at this.

Next she teleported herself and the others to the wood working class and asked a stallion working on a bird house about Dusty, but the stallion shook his head and pointed toward the door right as a pony left through it. Twilight and the others quickly hurried out only to find the pony had already gone.

Then Twilight, Spike, Leo, and Bright Eyes were looking around on the dock when they spotted some ponies out wind surfing. So they each took two wind boards and caught up to them. Twilight showed them Dusty's picture but they shook their heads, saying Dusty wasn't with them before sailing on.

Twilight looked around to see if Dusty was elsewhere, when she suddenly lost her balance, causing the board she and Spike were on to turn over, knocking into Leo and Bright Eyes' board, spilling all of them into the water. They resurfaced onto their boards, wet and frowning.

Later they opened a door to the theatre where three ponies where rehursing a play, dressed as a fox, bunny, and jester. Twilight showed them Dusty's picture, which was still wet and slightly crumpled.

The first pony took off her fox mask and shook her head. The second took off his bunny mask and shook his head. The third took off his jester mask with a long pointy nose and shook his head. But when he did, the group saw that his own nose was also long and pointy.

Twilight's eye twitched, Leo and Bright Eyes stared in bewilderment, and Spike just rolled his eyes.

Then Leo closed the door and spoke, "Well... that was... something..."

"I had the same reaction when I saw his 'unique' facial feature too," came a voice. The four turned and saw a familiar elderly unicorn mare.

"Melody Spirit!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Twilight, Spike, and Leonardo, long time no see," Melody greeted. "And you must be Bright Eyes."

"Yeah, and you're Blade Swipe's sister, Melody Spirit," Bright Eyes noted.

"That I am," Melody chuckled. "My brother told me how much help you were to him in the other world. Nice to finally meet you." She shook hooves with Bright Eyes.

"It's great to see you again, Melody, but what are you doing here?" Leo asked.

"Well, I moved here a few months ago to be closer to some of my old friends," Melody explained. "I lead a pony parkour class and organize scavenger hunts. Though the question is, what are all of you doing here?"

"We came here looking for a pony named Dusty Pages," Spike answered.

"I don't suppose you've seen her, have you?" Twilight showed Melody Dusty's picture.

"Well of course I've seen her," Melody confirmed.

"You have?!" Twilight said in excitement.

"Why yes, we're very good friends," Melody stated. "But why are you looking for her?"

"Well, you see, Dusty used to work at the Canterlot Library," Twilight began. "But then I checked out this book," she levitated it out for Melody to see. "And completely forgot all about it. When we went to return it, we found out that she was fired!"

"She was?" Melody asked, before she muttered to herself, "That's not how I heard it?"

Twilight went on, "So that's why we're here. So that Dusty can return the book and get her job back."

"Problem is, we keep missing her at all her activities," Bright Eyes noted.

"We heard she has band practice, only we don't know where that is?" Leo added.

"Well then, you're in luck," Melody smiled. "I know exactly where she and her band practice. Follow me."

"Thank you!" Twilight beamed as they all followed Melody, with Spike dragging the mail bag.

Soon the group had entered a caffet with a small stage. A five pony band was currently playing. An old pony mare played a base fiddle, another played some drums, two old stallions played a saxophone and a trumpet, and sitting on a stool playing a guitar was the very pony they'd been looking for.

"Dusty Pages, finally!" Twilight beamed. "Come on, guys!" But as she stepped forward, Spike suddenly flew up, blocking her.

"Wait, she looks pretty happy up there," He said, motioning to Dusty. The elderly mare dropped from her stool and began playing like a rock star.

"Not to mention she's really rocking!" Bright Eyes tapped her hoof.

"Oh yeah," Melody nodded. "Dusty's a real natural."

"Trust me, it's all an act," Twilight insisted. "She'll be a lot happier when I deliver the news that she can go back to working at the library."

"If you're sure," Leo shrugged.

Twilight used her magic to levitate all the instruments out of the ponies hooves, making Dusty and her band mates look at her with frowns.

"Hey, Dusty, you got a visitor," Melody said, nodded to Twilight.

"Care to take five, everypony?" The princess asked.

Dusty's frown instantly vanished, "Ah! Twilight Sparkle?! My stars!" She nodded to her band mates as they took their leave. "It's so wonderful to see you!" She said, walking down from the stage. "Oh, and who are your friends?"

"This is Leonardo and Bright Eyes," Twilight quickly introduced.

"A pleasure to finally meet you, Dusty Pages," Leo shook her hoof.

"We've heard a lot about you," Bright Eyes said.

"The pleasure all mine," Dusty smiled, then she spoke to Twilight. "What are you doing here?"

"I've been looking all over Equestria for you!" Twilight said, while Spike dragged the mail bag over. "I need to tell you something."

Dusty noticed the mail bag, "Well, you brought my mail! Oh, thank you!" She gave Twilight a big hug.

"No. I mean, yes, we did, but that's not why we're here," Twilight explained. "I let you down, and I can't forgive myself until I set things right."

"I don't remember you doing anything wrong," Dusty stated in confusion.

Twilight explained, "You told me to take care of a special book I checked out from the Canterlot Library, and I never brought it back!"

Dusty gasped, as if suddenly remembering, "It was you that had that book out? The one that broke my perfect record?"

Twilight sadly nodded and levitated the book out of her saddlebag, "But now you can bring it to Canterlot Library and get your job back!"

But instead of taking the book, Dusty frowned and shook her head. "No, thank you!" She said, sounding mad. "I don't ever need to see that library again!" She picked up her mail bag and pushed the book back to Twilight. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be." And with that, she walked off.

"Uh, the owner of your old house said to change your address," Bright Eyes called.

"Thank you, dearie," Dusty called back as she left the cafe.

Twilight watched with a sad look on her face. It seemed that Dusty Pages really was upset with her after all.

"Well," Melody broke the awkward silence. "That certainly could've gone better."

Making Things Right

Twilight layed face down on the table. She and the others hadn't left the cafe since Dusty had gone. The Princess of Friendship was feeling more guilty than ever. Not only did she make Dusty lose her job, but it looked like she lost her friendship with her as well.

Leo sat by her side, laying a comforting hand on her. Melody Spirit also layed a comforting hoof on her friend. Spike meanwhile, was sipping a drink and snapping his claws as the band ponies were playing once again. Bright Eyes was tapping her hoof on the table, enjoying the music as well

Twilight sat up and shot a frown at the band, "Do you mind?" The band stopped for a moment before drummer shook her head and they continued on. "I don't understand? If Dusty Pages won't go back to Canterlot Library and explain everything, then she won't be able to get her job back. And worse, her record will remain imperfect!"

"And yours will too?" Spike asked dryly.

"Well, yeah! But that doesn't matter anymore."

"Does it though?" Bright Eyes asked rhetorically.

"Well maybe a little bit," Twilight admitted sheepishly. "Oh no, bits! The late fines!" She suddenly remembered. "How much do I owe now?!"

Spike took out an abacus and did a number crunch. "Uh, you don't wanna know," he said warily.

"Ugh!" Twilight groaned and ran a hoof down her face. "It would've been worth all the bits in Equestria if I'd made things right with Dusty. I wish I knew why she won't go back?"

"Twilight, I know you feel guilty, but has it ever occurred to you that you might have jumped to the wrong conclusion here?" Leo inquired.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"I didn't wanna say anything because I wasn't quite sure myself," Leo began. "But ever since what we found out about Dusty, you’ve been assuming the worst of things without getting the full details."

"Yeah," Bright Eyes agreed. "You assumed that she was fired and that it was all your fault."

"And you assumed that she wasn't happy and putting on an act," Spike noted.

"I gotta agree with your friends on this one, Twilight," Melody said. "One of the most important things I've learned throughout my days of exploring, is that when you jump to conclusions and assume things without getting the full picture, things can get way out of hoof. So maybe instead of fretting over something that might turn out to be not that big a deal, you should ask Dusty why she was fire. Or if she was fired."

"But what if I'm right?" Twilight worried. "You all saw how upset she was!"

"Well, you won't know until you find out," Leo stated.

"She didn't seem to want to talk," Twilight rebuked.

"You surprised her," Spike pointed out.

"And she did say she had somewhere else to be," Bright Eyes recalled. "She does have a packed schedule."

"Twilight, when you first told me about what happened to Blade, a part of me was afraid that the brother I knew was gone, but I also knew that I would never know until I found out," Melody explained. "Sometimes you just have to take a chance. It's called a leap of faith."

Spike flew over to Twilight, "Come on, what've you got to lose?"

"Now that I've messed up this much, nothing," Twilight replied. "You're right, guys, it's worth a try. Where do you think she went? Crochet? Bingo?"

"Non of the above," Melody rebuked. "I know which activity she has after band practice, but I wouldn't recommend going without wearing any gear."

"What kind of activity is that?" Leo asked.

"A squishy fruit food-fight tournament?!" Twilight said in surprise, as she and the others walked onto a field. Elderly ponies were dressed in gear and running around, taking cover behind trees, rocks, haystacks, and barrels. All while throwing multiple fruit at each other.

"One of the most popular activities here," Melody explained while dressed in gear herself. Then without turning her head, she halted a mango with her magic before whirling it around and flinging it right back, nailing the pony who'd thrown it. "Nice try, Coltland! But you're gonna have to be sneakier than that!"

Twilight, Spike, Leo, and Bright Eyes meanwhile were dodging any fruit that was flung in their direction. Leo even used one of his katanas to deflect and chop them. He even sliced a watermelon.

Spike waved out a white flag and called out, "Hey, everypony! We come in—" Twilight ducked an incoming tomato that hit him instead, knocking him back. He flew up with the tomato splattered on his belly. "Eh, pieces," he finished dryly.

"Ambush!" Melody suddenly cried and dove behind some rocks. Before the others could react, they were pelted all over by the fruit before Twilight teleported them all behind the rocks.

"This is just like the Apple and Peach Family's food fight!" Bright Eyes recalled the incident during her time in the human world.

"We'll never be able to find Dusty in all this madness," Leo said.

"And without getting splattered," Spike notted.

Twilight peeked over the rock and called, "Stop! We just want to talk to Dusty Pages for a moment! Please?" However, no pony seemed to listen to her. Until...

"TIME OUT!"

Everypony turned and looked up. There was Dusty standing on the branch of a tree, wearing a light purple helmet, blue goggles, and a matching scarf around her neck. The former libraian grabbed a rope in her mouth and swung down, landing in front of the surprised group.

"Nice entrance," Melody commented.

"Thanks, Melody," Dusty then turned to the four friends. "Next time, you should rent gear."

"We're not actually here for the game," Spike clearified.

"Yeah," Bright Eyes added. "Even though it does look really fun..." She dodged a watermelon. "When your not the target of bombarding fruit."

Twilight spoke, "I was hoping you'd give me another chance to talk to you about the library book.

Dusty sighed, "This really means a lot to you, doesn't it?"

"Mm-hmm," Twilight nodded.

"It really does," Leo confirmed.

Twilight continued, "I know I ruined your life by not returning my book on time, and I will do anything I can to make it up to you. Even promise to never take a book out of a library again, if that's what it takes." All the ponies gasped at that, just like the ones in the library had, shocked that the book-loving princess would even suggest such a thing. But what happened next took both Twilight and her friends by surprise...

Dusty started laughing.

"That is not the reaction we expected," Spike stated.

"At all," Bright Eyes added.

Once she stopped laughing, Dusty spoke, "Twilight, dear, you've got it all backwards! I'm not upset with you!"

"You're not?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"No! If I'm mad at anypony, it's me," Dusty clarified.

"Why is that?" Leo inquired.

Dusty removed her helmet and sat on a long, motioning the others to sit with her. Once everyone did, she began to explain, "All those years I spent hiding away in that library, trying to be perfect. When your book never came in, I felt something exhilarating!"

"What was it?" Twilight asked.

"Freedom," Dusty answered.

"Freedom?" Leo echoed.

"From what?" Bright Eyes asked.

"From books?" Spike guessed.

"From perfection!" Dusty explained. "I was too stubborn to know when to call it quits! It took your mistake to make me realize that I wasn't living the life I wanted!"

"You mean you weren't fired? You left the library because you wanted to?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"Twilight, your late book was the best thing that ever happened to me," Dusty smiled. "Now I'm not afraid to try things I might fail at. In fact, sometimes messing up teaches me more than getting it right!"

"You're sure you don't want to return it and get that perfect record back?" Twilight asked, levitating out the book. But before Dusty could answer, Melody noticed something and ducked as a fruit was thrown, just missing her, and splattered right on the book. "WAAAAHHHH!" Twilight screamed.

"Oh no!" Bright Eyes exclaimed.

"Coltland!" Melody scolded the pony who'd thrown the fruit.

"Sorry," Coltland said sheepishly.

Everyone looked at the book and Dusty sighed in relief, "Ah, good. It was a yellow one. You can still see the words."

"But it'll have a stain!" Twilight fretted.

"That doesn't change the truth inside it," Dusty retorted, but then a thought suddenly occurred to her. "Wait. Did you even read that thing?"

Twilight was silent. "Did you, Twilight?" Leo asked.

Twilight blushed with embarrassment, "Actually, uh, no, I guess I didn't."

"You mean you never read the book you've been stressing over all day?" Bright Eyes questioned with a grin.

Twilight frowned at her before she wipped the fruit off and read the title aloud, "Perfection."

"And the next part?" Dusty urged.

Twilight read further, "The Impossible Pursuit." The alicorn's eyes widened in surprise.

After a moment, Melody burst out laughing. "Well, how's that for irony?!" The old mare gauffed.

Then Spike, Dusty, Leo, and Bright Eyes started laughing too, while Twilight felt very sheepish.

"Oh. That might've been useful to look at earlier," she said, blushing.

After saying goodbye to Dusty and Melody, the four friends returned to the Carnterlot library. They stood in First Folio's office as the unicorn read from a long piece of paper.

"Uh-huh... Your total late fees come to..." she started.

"However much it is, I'll cover it," Twilight promised worriedly. "Uh, do you have a monthly payment plan?"

First Folio lowered the paper and gave the amount, "Twenty-eight bits," she said with a sneer.

Everyone gasped in surprise. That was a lot lower than they had assumed.

"That's it?!" Spike asked.

"Yah-huh," First Folio nodded. "Most ponies don't know that it caps at a month. Probably 'cause we don't tell them." She snorted. Relieved, Twilight levitated the amount of bits from her saddlebag and handed them to her.
"Thank you. Your account is back to normal. Although we will be taking down your Best Book Borrower picture."

"Um, is that really necessary?" Twilight asked. "Heh. It just seems so permanent. Heh. I mean, I did return the book, after all."

Spike cleared his throat.

"Twilight," Leo warned.

"Perfection alert," Bright Eyes muttered.

"Okay. Letting the perfection go," Twilight relented a bit grudgingly, then took a breath. "You want me to reshelve this for you?"

"No, it's an old edition," First Folio replied. "We've already replaced it with a new copy."

"In that case, can we keep it?" Spike asked. "It might be a good reminder to have around." He nudged Twilight who smiled awkwardly.

"You sure?" First Folio questioned, levitating the book up with a wince. "It's got a stain."

"That's what makes it perfect," Twilight smiled, and held the book close.

As the four left the library, Bright Eyes spoke up, "You know, headmare Twilight, maybe you could make a friendship lesson from this whole experience."

"I'll keep that in mind, Bright Eyes," Twilight replied.

"Also," Leo chimed in. "What Dusty said about how messing up teaches more than getting it right, it reminded me of something Splinter once said: Failure is the best teacher. And we've all definitely lived through that. Especially me and my brothers."

"Like the Muckman incident? Or when you guys spilled Mutagen all over New York?" Bright Eyes brought up. "Or the Justin incident?"

"Where Karai totally played you for fool and humiliated you in front of your brothers?" Spike added with a smirk.

"Yeah..." Leo frowned and looked away. He was still very embarrassed by that incident.

"Or how about the night when you guys first faced Stockman?" Twilight spoke up. "When you were nagging your brothers about being stealthy, but didn't watch where you were going and fell off a ledge, crashed through a greenhouse, and a bee hive, then tumbled down a fire escape and landed right in a dumpster?"

"HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?!" Leo jerked towards her in shock.

Twilight and Bright Eyes just laughed and trotted away.

"You sure weren't very stealthy that night, huh Leo?" Spike chuckled before he flew after them.

Leo did a double take. What Spike said was VERY similar to what a certain red-masked brother of his said to him that very night. The Turtle leader glared as he followed after his friends. When they got back to the School, he was gonna have some words with Raph.

Author's Note

Trivia:

• The pony Coltland is the one who told Pinkie and Rainbow the story of Somnambula from the episode "Daring Done". He and Melody are long time rivals, like Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

• The embarrassing incident that Twilight mentions to Leo is from the TMNT 2012 episode "I think his name was Baxter Stockman".