The Grand Canterlot Library was built 600 years ago in order to act as a source of knowledge and wisdom open to the public.

Since its opening, the number of times the Grand Library was closed could be counted to less than one-thousand, and most of those were during holidays.

That is to say, Equestria, or more specifically Canterlot, treats the library with extreme respect, and not even the most close-minded individuals of high society would dare to suggest closing it down.

Even though, over the past century the number of yearly visitors to the library has dropped significantly, sadly. The reason for that could be pointed to the normalization of public libraries in many other cities, and with only a third of the population able to utilize magic, and only a fourth of that third willing to train in the arcane arts, the need for Ponies to travel all the way to the high cliffs of Canterlot became much lower.

Many ponies do still visit the Grand Library, but the number is but a fraction of what it was during its glory days almost six-hundred years ago.

I little history lesson to whoever is reading my notes.

Do not think I don't know these will be found.

Did the captain send you?

I always knew Shining wante- The page cuts off.

Walking down the street towards the Grand Canterlot Library, Looper ignored the whispers and stares pointed at him.

He knew his appearance was unsettling to these ponies, who likely have never seen another creature outside of the rare Griffon or Donkey, therefore seeing a Changeling walking around in broad daylight will most likely be a unique experience for most.

"Mommy, why does he look like that?" He heard a child ask her mother, who instead of answering merely picked her daughter up and walked away. "Don't look at him Darling," He heard her say.

Looper was a man of few words, he knew that, why should he spend energy talking with someone when he could be doing something productive with his life instead? He more than anyone knew that life was short, it shouldn't be wasted listening to the cowardly opinions of others.

However, that did not mean that Looper did not feel emotion, only that he showed few. Any other person walking down the street and getting whispered about and stared at would most likely feel uncomfortable, or perhaps even embarrassed.

Looper felt pity.

He felt pity that these ponies had nothing better to do in their lives but simply point and talk, He felt pity for those who listened to those he whispered behind his back and chose to believe their words instead of forming their own conclusion, He felt pity for the child whose mother dragged her away instead of answering her question, even if the answer would have been a lie.

"Excuse me, sir?" Looper paused as a voice called out to him, turning around he found himself face to face with a female Unicorn with a light yellowish-grey coat and a pair of glasses over her purple eyes, her mane and tail were an interesting blend of red with purple highlights.
Although other than the fact she approached him, Looper could find no other reason to keep her in mind.

"Yes, how may I help you?" Looper asked the pony, she looked uncomfortable with what she was going to do next but likely mustered up the courage to make her request after a few seconds.

"Could you maybe try not to scare the children," That quickly got his attention but he continued listening "It's just that whatever makeup you put on your eyes and legs is frightening to some of the younger foals." She then proceeded to point behind her, making Looper follow her hoof and catch sight of two foals and a filly looking his way, quickly hiding behind a nearby sign when they spotted him looking.

A smile spread on Looper's face and his eyes widened a bit as he turned back to look at the Unicorn that approached him, enjoying the uncomfortable look she had on her face as she stared into his blank teal eyes.

"No, I cannot try to do so," He said, his smirk not wiping from his face, "Why not? Don't you-" Looper interrupted her "Because I wasn't trying to scare anyone." He said with finality as he turned around and continued on his walk towards the library.

"Hey!" He heard the unicorn follow him, slowly hastening her steps in order to catch up with Looper's naturally longer legs.
"What do you mean you didn't try scaring them? You put all this makeup on-" He once again interrupted her "There is no makeup,"

"What?"

"There is no makeup, there is no eyeliner or mascara, blush or contacts, this is my natural appearance. And if you're suggesting that I should hide my appearance because foals can't bear to look at my visage without screaming in terror, then I would like to tell you that it was the children's choice to look away just as much as it was your choice to ask me to stop." Looper slowed down his walking speed as he explained, getting a skeptic look on the mare's face.

"I don't believe you," She said as the two of them continued walking, him towards the library and she after him, "I do not believe that you are not wearing any makeup, or have some form of illusion over your body, I refuse to believe you."

The Library could already be seen in the distance, near the School for Gifted Unicorns, Its large frame cast a shadow in the morning sun, covering an entire street as a result.

"You do not believe that I am not utilizing makeup? How unfortunate," Looper said, "How will I ever be able to live with myself now that this unnamed lady won't believe me," He yelled dramatically, leaning away from the unicorn and holding a hoof close to his chest in mock hurt.

"Hey, Stop it, You're making everybody look!" She whisper-shouted as the other ponies on the street started looking towards the duo, murmuring words and whispering amongst themselves.

The smirk on his lips only grew in intensity as the Unicorn began to feel uncomfortable with the stares, "You know, there is a way to prove that I'm not wearing makeup, Want me to show you?" He asked, Looper could physically feel the smirk on his face tearing at his lips from how enjoyable the last five minutes have been.

"There is? Then show me proof that this," She proceeded to gesture at him, "Is how you actually look," And Looper could almost swear that the smile on his face was actively cutting him in half with how wide he was smirking.

"Very well," He whispered as he took a step closer to the Unicorn, who looked on expectantly, ready to see proof of his claims "Let me show you."

And right as he said those words, He moved towards her quickly, and faster than she could react he used Changelings Grasp, a spell that allows a changeling to control an invisible hand as a form of semi-telekinesis, and took out the Unicorn's two back legs form under her, as she lost her balance he quickly moved his legs to catch her as she fell, resulting in a princess carry as he now held the Unicorn in his front legs as he stood on his back legs, his face close to hers, their noses almost touching and their eyes staring into each other.

"Wha-what? What what what what what?" The Unicorn mumbled as her cream-colored face was dusted by a heavy red blush, which only grew darker as Looper whispered into her ear, "You can feel the holes in my legs, can't you?" And then he placed her gently on a bench on the side of the road and continued his walk towards the library.

Leaving the Unicorn behind, breathing heavily and sweating profusely, her eyes unfocused and staring blankly ahead as her mind was almost definitely somewhere else.

And Looper wore the widest smirk he ever had on his face since his reincarnation all the way till he reached the Library.
And without any further wait or drama, walked in.

Author's Note

So yeah, I wanted to write this Chapter already at the library, but then I started writing him walking down the street and the reactions of the ponies leading from one thing to the other.

Looper also has a playful side, who knew?

And you can probably guess who the Unicorn was, I think I wrote her close enough to the source material.