APR 5 Wednesday.

I sit down at the table in the break room before anypony else. I don't know where Blaz and Maple are but Daisy is staying behind for a few minutes to find a certain piece of paperwork I asked for.

I have a bittersweet feeling as my thoughts wander and I eat. As a start, I told Stone we'd be missing a practice day for the first time in nearly three years because today is my birthday. Honestly, I'm a little melancholic about today, but I'm also excited about my plans.

I'm still nervous about telling my friends that I'm leaving the library but in the end, I decided to tell them today and get the paperwork started on leaving so I can just rip this band-aid off. I chose to trust in them that they would accept my choice and just try to stay in touch with me.

As you've probably guessed The paperwork I asked Daisy for was a termination notice. After today I will no longer be working for the library, and it feels odd. I've worked here for a third of this life, and even including my last life, this is the longest I've ever held down a single job. But I try to keep a positive mood.

Sure, I won't spend as much time with my friends, but I'll be damned if I don't spend time with them, not that it's hard as we still have our weekly game nights. Funnily enough, Daisy didn't look all that surprised about my request and said we'd talk more at lunch, so here I am waiting for the others.

I look up as Maple sits down and looks over to me. "You look a little sad, why?" She asks bluntly, but there is a slight concern in there that brings a smirk to my face. I also see Blaz getting food so he should be joining us soon enough, and as if on cue I see Daisy walking into the break room.

I hold up a hoof as if to say we should wait and only once everypony is sitting down do I speak. Blaz also notices my mood pretty quickly but just raises a brow and waits as he sees Daisy getting food. Once Daisy sits down and everypony is here I start.

I turn to Maple. "To answer you Maple, I have news." I try to keep a somewhat happy look but my mellow tone still comes through. I look over to see Blaz chuckling and Daisy smiling as she passes over a few documents. "Or maybe not? You all guessed it then?" I smirk as none of them seem surprised in the least.

Blaz nods after he stops chuckling. "Don't look so down Colt, we all knew you'd move on. This place is too small for a pony like you." He seems happy and smiles widely. "So happy birthday, and good riddance." He jokes as both Daisy and Maple chuckle at his humor.

His words and the happy mood perk me up a good amount. Daisy nods and moves the papers over to me, "Happy birthday Shade. And he's right, You always said you wanted to make spells, and with the skill and time you now have, go for it." She hints at my other job without revealing anything. "But don't you DARE forget about us. We still have to even the score with Maple after all." She also jokes and it's clear they are trying to make me feel better about this.

Even Maple speaks up with more emotion than normal. "Happy birthday. And you better keep bringing the snacks, Daisy's cookies are so bad, and raisins are evil." Even Maple jokes a little and I can't help but laugh at that.

I look in between all of them. "Well, shucks. A col- ... Huh. A Stallion couldn't ask for better friends. And just for the record, if I do start drifting away from you all, you have full permission to slap me as hard as you can." I only half-joke as I really do want them to keep me around if needed.

Blaz nods with a smirk. "I'll hold you to that Colt, and yes you're still a colt to me, no matter how old you are." He verbally jabs me again. "Just make sure to leave some free time after you get yourself a mare." He says completely seriously and I fight off some embarrassment at the serious tone he used. Daisy and Maple stare at him, "What? I made that mistake with my first mare friend, I almost missed Hearth's warming once." He chuckles at some memory.

Daisy rolls her eyes and places two other things on the table as I take a few minutes to look through the paperwork for my termination. The contract is simple and to my pleasant surprise, because I'm an apprentice I can quit without any form of notice or warning, I can leave today I just need to finish my last day.

I raise a brow as she moves more papers over along with a familiar metal badge. Her tone is slightly proud as she says, "The badge is already engraved and we don't have a use for it, so it's yours to keep." I smile more as this small metal badge has accompanied me every day of work for five years. "And that, is a consultant contract."

I do a double take and look back up at her surprised and she chuckles. "Well, finding a pony with good skills can be hard, so when we can have them sign a contract, the consultants are added to our records so we can contact that pony with skills we may need at some point." I feel a warmth in my chest at the thoughtful offer.

Being able to come back from time to time and help out sounds really nice, and it also provides a little comfort for the separation. Consultants are often brought in for many different things, specialized book recovery, filling gaps in schedules for specialized jobs, repairing the library, and simply helping with high workloads.

I give her my first full smile of the day and start to read through and fill out both small piles of paperwork. The termination is simple, and the consultant's contract just gives them the right to contact me whenever needed and makes me inform them of my current address, but I have the right to say no and turn down the request for any reason.

After signing the paperwork I turn to look at all of them. "Thank you all, it's been... Amazing." I feel my emotions overtake me a little as the support is amazing, especially when I didn't ask for it, they just knew and stepped up to make me feel better about my choices.

Maple and Blaz nod before looking at Daisy. She keeps her happy expression, "Don't get all sad on us, like Blaz said you're not getting rid of us that easily. And to prove that, we're going out to eat next Sunday, a celebration of your retirement, and we're paying." She said that last part in a firm tone leaving no room for disagreement.

My smile threatens to widen even more somehow after hearing that and I nod my agreement immediately. "That sounds perfect. Now, let's finish our work, I want to get out of here as fast as I can, I've had enough paperwork and scribe work for a lifetime." I blurted out with some humor now feeling much better than before.

Blaz nods. "Like I said, good riddance." He chuckles again before standing up. "See you next weekend Colt." He shakes my hoof happily and Maple surprises me with a very quick hug, it's light but still not something she's done with anypony besides Daisy. That surprised me, to say the least, but raises the happy mood even as everypony starts to separate for the time being.

Daisy also finishes her food and I pass her the documents I signed. "Come on, I want you to write down the sorting system you use, I need some way to remember it. I'm going to miss having an assistant." She teases me a bit and I roll my eyes as we walk off to get back to work.

The rest of the day goes smoothly and I just spend a good amount of that time making a chart with clear instructions about my sorting system that Daisy can hang on the wall. After that and finishing my remaining work, along with cleaning out my workspace, it's time for me to leave the library.

As I pack the last things away I notice one of the paintings I got as a souvenir on my trip hanging on the wall in a new frame. It's a painting of the grass fields that cover much of the Great Plateau. I turn as Daisy stands up and walks over to me with a smile and gives me a quick hug. "Look at you, all grown up." She says after backing up a bit and looking up at me. "I still remember that nervous colt."

I nod with a laugh. "I've come a long way in five years, it feels like an eternity. Thank you, Daisy, you taught me how to deal with paperwork, and for that, I am ever thankful." I give a small bow as she laughs with me.

She gives me one of her beaming smiles. "Truly I could teach you no greater skill than that. Have a good day Shade, and see you in a few days, I'll drop off a note for the time and place." I nod my thanks and a silent goodbye as I leave the room and slowly make my way through the hallways and doors.

I can't tell you how many times I've walked these hallways, it's sad to leave it all behind, to say goodbye. No, maybe not goodbye. I'll return, often or otherwise, I WILL return, I still need to study and find books to read for fun after all. I shake my head after a moment and leave the library with a pep in my steps.

When I return home and enter my apartment I find Entropy waiting for me happily. She's stopped going to work with me over the past two weeks so she could take care of the still unnamed crow. The crow is doing well enough and I might have an idea for them, but that's for another day. "Hey Girl, are you ready? We can't be late after all." Greet her with a few pets.

"YES! Ready! Go?!" She jumps on my back a little impatiently and I spend a few moments grabbing a rolled-up painting before nodding to her. Celestia sent me a letter a few days ago saying our next meeting would be on my birthday at Gaia's Eden. She definitely planned something but I'm just excited to see her after more than a month.

When we arrive I feel both Celestia and Philomena in Celestia's home not far away. It's the afternoon and there is a good amount of rain falling outside and drenching the ground. I took a moment to pick up a heavy box in my field, I decided to give Celestia a complete copy of the documents on the Storm King I bought on my trip here while keeping the originals in my shack if they are needed.

I have to run through the rain a little but I make it to her front door mostly dry and with a resigned feeling as I knock on the door, let's see what she has planned for me. I'm a little confused as there is no answer to my knocking and after a moment I open the door. "SURPRISE!!" I nearly jump out of my skin and move a step back as Celestia stands up happily and shouts out with a massive smile and her forelimbs open wide in celebration.

The inside is decorated with a few small party streamers and a deep green tablecloth over her large table. What really catches my eye is the two gift boxes on the table and a decently sized cake with a few lit candles. I feel my face split into a smile, "Well, this is.. New. You did all of this for me?" I ask while closing the door behind me as my mind tries to catch up.

Entropy takes the opportunity to fly off with Philomena and play while Celestia looks pleased with my happy expression. "Yes I did, but it seems you just can't help yourself and give gifts even on YOUR birthday." She chuckles a bit as I realize it's kind of backward. "Well, come on then, these candles won't last forever." She motions me over to the table and I put everything else to the side for the moment.

I quickly hop onto the seat and my smile nearly hurts when she pushes the cake in front of me. It's simple, a few trees made of frosting and my name written on top. I can't remember the last time someone gave me a cake, but I feel touched by the gesture. "Make a wish, you're only fifteen once." She says like an excited filly.

:I wish... I wish for a quiet vacation, just one: I decide to make a reasonable wish and blow out the candles and she claps and I just feel, happy. "You really went and gave me a birthday huh? This cake better not have coconut, although I guess I can stomach it if you brought it." I joke a little as she brings a knife out and starts to cut up the cake. I smirk at her and meet her eyes, "Thank you, Celestia, this is... I'm not really sure... Nice, nice works well." I say as my mind catches up with everything.

I knew she was probably going to do something like this. I normally don't like parties, but small personal things like this mean a lot to me, even if this is a little corny. I can't help but feel content with my day. It may have started on a lower note but it's certainly ending on a high one.

She nods, "I'm more than happy to hear that. You've made my last few birthdays much brighter and I'd be a poor friend if I didn't try to do the same." She places a large slice of cake on a plate in front of me. "So, how was your trip? I heard from Cadance that things got... Interesting." She teases a bit but it's clear she's relaxed about the topic.

I take a bit of the vanilla and strawberry cake before stopping mid-chew after hearing her words. She sees my look and waves a hoof. "I can scold you another day, today is supposed to be a celebration. But I am curious how you nearly got robbed on your first day in that city." She keeps her light tone with a smirk and practically inhales her own piece of cake.

I swallow and sigh a little. "Oh don't worry, you haven't even heard the last of it." She raises a brow and gives me an amused stare. "But I'll save that for later. For now, gifts, you go first." I move over to the rolled-up painting and move the box next to her on the floor. "A nice painting, and all the information I could gather on the Storm King," I say as her face shifts.

She unrolls the painting and looks happy but then shifts to confused and raises a brow before looking at the box. "Really Shade? This is what you did with your free time on your vacation?" She asks amused and laughs a little before moving the painting and the box over to a wall. "I might just have to authorize another vacation for you if you spend your time like this." She threatens jokingly.

I give her a challenging look and take another bite of the delicious cake. "Jokes on you, I just quit my job, I'm officially retired." I declare victory and she looks surprised at my declaration. I drop the smug look and tone, "Thanks again for the advice, they took it well and I'm now expected at a restaurant next weekend for dinner."

She looks pleased after the surprise wears off and smiles widely. "Well then, are you interested in a job?" I give her a deadpan look in return conveying my answer. "I thought not, still give it some more thought." She says without pressuring me and moves the two small gifts over to me. "Go on, I worked hard on these two. I had to after this." She motions to the necklace I made for her that she's currently wearing.

I nod and do as asked. I Pick the larger gift first and tear off the paper eagerly. It's a plain-looking book with a title written in a flowing script. A theorem on magical gem cutting. By Celestia Solis. Several dozen questions flood my mind as my jaw hits the floor and I quickly look up to Celestia. "What?!!" I ask, completely bewildered.

She just laughs right in my face as my current expression is not something many see too often. So many thoughts are going through my head, but one stands out. I wait until she's done laughing, "Ok, FIRST. I'm sorry, I never thought to ask for your full name." I admit with a little embarrassment as that's something I've never thought to ask her and really should have.

She waves her hoof again after recovering from her laughing fit. "There is nothing to apologize for. I was never born with a second name, they weren't common back then. That name was given by a royal, but I stopped using it long ago." She explains with a slight bit of melancholy.

I notice the mood shift and try to move us away from it. "Fair enough I suppose. Still, I'm definitely using that, Miss. Solis." I tease her and to my amazement, she actually looks a little embarrassed being called that. I could tease her more but leave it for now. "You wrote a book about cutting gems? Did you cut gems? I really need to ask you more about your life." I ask curiously.

She smirks but it seems my question keeps the same lower mood. "A job actually, my first job in fact. And something I rarely get to do anymore. I wrote that a very long time ago, it's in old Pony so it might be hard to read, but I thought you might... Enjoy it." She says with a slight bit of embarrassment, she is being absolutely adorable right now.

I never thought I'd see Celestia like this, but I suppose we all have things we are embarrassed about in our past. I open the old-looking book to find simple text on the pages, it's not as neat as the writing I've seen from the modern here. It's also very dry text, and like she said it's a little hard to read, but being given something like this means a lot to me.

When I put the book down she seems both happy and uncertain. "I know, it's not the best work. But I was... Much younger then." She admits before seemingly trying to move past the current mood. "But enough of that, you still have a gift left and this one I know you'll really love." She picks herself up and looks a bit excited.

I've seen Celestia at some of her most vulnerable moments, but this is a new form of vulnerability. She shared something small and very personal with me, something only one other pony would even know about. I also noticed that she mentioned her being a gem cutter at some point and I want to ask more about it, but leave it for the moment and focus on my other gift.

Before fully moving on though I place the book down gently. "Thank you, Celestia, it's nice to see this side of you," I say with a blunt honesty that probably didn't come out as I intended. After realizing what I just said I quickly rip into my other gift before she can question me about it.

Inside is a simple thing of beauty. A twenty-sided bright green gem that is four inches wide, cut with extreme skill and precision. It might be the best cut gem I've ever seen and all sides are completely even and identical. And I also feel the life magic shifting and contained within the Life gem, this is the uncut Life gem I gave her.

I look up to see the large warm smile on Celestia's face. "Happy birthday Shade."

Author's Note

Thanks for reading this long ass story. :D
Current year is 995

Ok, so, Shade is free from his job, but he'll try not to work himself to death on new projects and inventions. But he will probably be move mobile now.

Also, don't worry I am going to continue this in the next chapter. So, please put the torches and pitchforks down... Please?

Ps. Got my shit together, should be the normal schedule from here, but if it's not I'll make sure to tell you all.