Pony Adventures: Quest for the Lost Relic

The walk to the library was only 20 minutes, as Goldie had said, but for Sparky, it had felt like hours. It had taken thirty seconds after leaving the Inn for Pheonix to begin flapping her gums, and with every word she spoke, Sparky became increasingly angry--- the cloaked mare could not believe there was someone in Equestria who talked even more than her mother and her mother talked incessantly. The unicorn not only talked a lot but would randomly switch topics at the drop of a hat; in only 20 minutes of walking, Pheonix went from asking Sparky questions about Ponyville to architectural history facts to travel plans. By the time they reached the library, Pheonix had started chattering about different types of cuisine she hoped to try while traveling.

"I hear that the Equestrian borders have a variety of dishes," Pheonix said as the two stopped at the hoof of the library, not realizing it was in front of her.
"I hope I have time to try some before I head to the Dragon Lands."
"Hey, we're here," Sparky said, trying to get the unicorn's attention.
"I guess I could always buy some local snacks when I restock--- I have to make sure I've got plenty to eat when I reach the Dragon Lands."
"We are at the library!"
"Oh!? Have I told you why I'm going to the Dragon Lands yet? I plan on finding..."
"LOOK IN FRONT OF YOU, CHATTERBOX!!"

Pheonix's eyes widened, not from the cloaked mare shouting at her but from the sight of the Golden Oak Library. The library was a gigantic oak tree with bark shining like pure gold, hence the name Golden Oak. The two had made it just as the doors opened, which made Pheonix extra happy since it meant she would have the entire day to research. The unicorn was about to trot straight into the plant structure but paused to turn to her cloaked guide, who was already beginning to walk away.

"Hey, Sparky, wait up!" she shouted.

Reluctantly, the cloaked mare stopped and looked at the other with a less-than-enthused expression.

"I...I just wanted to say thank you for bringing me here this morning. I know you probably didn't want to, but you did, and I'm grateful for it."
"You're...welcome," Sparky said hesitantly, feeling as though she was about to be asked to do another thing she did not want to do.
"I was hoping maybe you could join me while I work. We seemed to be getting along while walking--- you're a great listener, and I would love to have someone to share my research with who would actually pay attention. So, what do you say?"

Sparky wanted to say no to Pheonix and planned on saying no, but fate had a different idea. The old librarian, Fate Diamond, had seen the two mares talking when she opened up, and she was a nosy biddy. Mrs. Diamond and Sparky had formed a decent relationship since the cloaked mare spent a lot of time in the library, and sometimes Sparky would even help the old librarian with carrying heavy books. However, given the time together, Mrs. Diamond thought it meant she had a right to every aspect of Sparky's life. So, when the old librarian saw her precious cloaked helper talking to a young unicorn she did not recognize, it was only a matter of seconds before she pushed her way into the conversation.

"Sparkling Shield, I knew that was you," rejoiced Mrs. Diamond.
"Who is this lovely mare with you? Did we finally make a new friend?"
"Mornin' Mrs. Diamond. She is not my fr---," Sparky had begun to explain when the old librarian cut her off.
"What's your name, darlin'?"
"Pheonix Flame," the unicorn answered.
"Pheonix, like the ancient bird of fire. What a unique name. It's so lovely to see Sparkling making unique friends. Tell me, Pheonix darlin', what are you two doing here so early in the morning?"
"I'm researching the Dragon Lands and want to be sure I have enough time to go over every detail, so..."
"...you came early to have the whole day to work. What a prepared and clever young mare. Sparkling, she is the perfect friend for you."
"Mrs. Diamond, she is not my fr---!"
"Dragon Lands? You must be looking for Lady Smith's book, The Lives of Dragons--- I know exactly where to find it. Sparkling, come along, precious. Don't keep your new friend waiting."
"(Mumbling) She is not my friend."

Despite her desire to return to the Inn, Sparky followed the old librarian and the unicorn into the library. The Golden Oak was more amazing inside than outside, with dozens of bookshelves carved from the tree's interior and filled with books of all varieties. The two young mares followed Mrs. Diamond silently, Sparky doing so out of annoyance at being tricked into entering, while Pheonix was more in awe at the sheer number of books. The library in Sire's Hollow was not small, but compared to the Golden Oak, it was nowhere near as extensive.

As said, Mrs. Diamond knew where to find The Lives of Dragons. She brought the young mares to an area in the library with a set of glass and wood cabinets, which the old librarian kept locked with a key around her neck. Before even putting the key in the lock, Mrs. Diamond took a pair of clean stockings out of her bag to put on her front hooves and took out two more pairs for Sparky and Pheonix to do the same. Then, with great care, she opened a cabinet and pulled out a large-weathered journal. The old librarian gently placed the journal down on the nearest table.

"Lady Smith was born here, and we knew each other in our youth," said Mrs. Diamond, stroking the journal's spine.
"We were so close that when I was collecting donations for repairs to the library, she threw in the manuscript of her book as a bonus. She was such a generous soul."

"Oh my goodness, this is so amazing," Pheonix said, placing a hoof gently on the journal's cover.

"Glad you think so. I wouldn't dare let a stranger touch something this precious usually, but seeing as you are a friend of Sparkling, I feel that I can trust you to be gentle with it. I can trust you, right?"

"Mrs. Diamond, I promise to treat this journal with as much care as my books. You have my word."

"Well, in that case, I think it is safe to leave you two with it. If you need anything else, I'll be at the front desk. (Whispering to Sparky) I'm proud of you for getting out there."

"Mrs. Diamond, she is not my friend," Sparky tried telling the old librarian again, but she waved it off like a joke and left to the front of the library.

Sparky stayed at the library--- she was planning on spending some time there anyway--- but the second Pheonix looked away, the cloaked mare fled to a different section. Luckily, the unicorn quickly got distracted by the journal's contents and did not notice her disappear. Sparky ended up in her usual spot in the thriller section and spent the next four hours catching up on her favorite detective series. Only when her stomach grumbled did she stop reading, deciding it would be a good idea to go home and have lunch.

The cloaked mare decided to check on the unicorn before leaving as if some mysterious force was pushing her towards the other. Pheonix was right where Sparky had left her near the cabinets, but the table she was at was not in the same state as when the cloaked mare left. The once-clean table had papers strewn across its surface. Pheonix's eyes kept going back and forth from the journal to some maps to a bizarre book with a leather cover. Every few seconds, she would grab a sheet of paper and write notes while mumbling under her breath. Sparky had no clue why, but she wanted a better look at the unicorn's research and crept to the table.

Sparky read through the various notes scattered about--- notes on the Dragon Lands, the best routes to get there, the best way to navigate through the lands, and the obstacles one might face while in the lands. It was surprisingly fascinating, although she would never say such a thing aloud. The cloaked mare was now leaning over the table, trying her best to get a peek at the papers close to Pheonix without getting in the other's personal space. That was when she read the words that made her heart beat with hope and determination.

"...it has also been said that whoever shall wear the amulet will be granted the power to receive all their heart's desires."

"AHHH!!!" screamed Pheonix, who had no clue that Sparky had returned and was startled by her reading aloud so close to her face.

Yes, the cloaked mare had gotten so close to the unicorn that they were less than a head apart when she spoke. The two mares jumped back from the table simultaneously out of shock. Meanwhile, other ponies that had flooded the library over the last few hours gave them dirty looks and shushed them for being noisy. When the mares calmed down, they gave the library patrons apologetic looks and hushed sorries.

"Sorry to you too, Sparky," said Pheonix, speaking as softly as possible so as not to cause another disturbance.
"I was just so in the zone that I forgot you were there. Were you there? I feel like you might have left at some point."
"Pheonix," said Sparky, trying to stay calm while the unicorn started talking over her again.
"Oh no. You left, and I didn't notice. Is that what happened? I am sooo sorry. And then, when you return, I still don't see you."
"Pheonix, I---"
"I mean, how rude is that? To not only not notice someone leaving but also not notice them returning, and on top of that, scaring the mane off their head. Seriously, how---?"
"CHATTERBOX!!"
"Shush," a passing pony sounds to Sparky.

Sparky turns to give the stallion a quick "Sorry" for the noise. When she faces the unicorn again, she is as silent as a pin drop.

"Pheonix, I forgive you," Sparky starts, trying to appear sincere while speaking.
"Actually, I should be the one to apologize to you. I've been pretty mean to you since this morning, and you haven't deserved any of my moodiness. So, to make it up to you, I was hoping you could share more details about your trip with me."

"You really want to hear about my plans?" said Pheonix hopefully.

"You betcha."

Pheonix squeals in delight, earning her more dirty looks and shushes from library patrons. After another round of apologies, the unicorn pulls a chair beside hers and practically shoves Sparky onto it. For the next several hours, Pheonix talks about everything she has been working on and then some. She tells Sparky the story of the amulet, about her years of research on legends surrounding the lost relic, of how she scrimped and saved to afford everything needed for her quest, and about all the notes taken that morning in preparation for the horrors she will face in the Dragon lands. The cloaked mare listens partially to the unicorn's ramblings, only giving her full attention when the other speaks of the amulet.

"Are any of these legends real?" Sparky asks at one point in the conversation.

"For example, the one about 'the power to receive all their heart's desires.' What's that one about, and is it even true?"

"Oh, that's a good one. You see, most ponies know Luna as the ruler of the dream realm, but they forget that as the ruler, she had the power to make anything in her realm become real just by wishing it so. On top of that, with enough willpower, she could make it so that any creature she created in her realm could potentially walk into ours."

"So, you're saying anyone who puts the amulet on can grant wishes? Any wish?"

"In practice, yes. The only limit is the pony's imagination."

"Now that is very interesting."

The two mares continued to talk and do research until the sun went down--- only an hour before closing did they realize they had skipped lunch and dinner. Their stomachs made pained sounds of hunger so loud that if anyone had been in the library, they would have told them to shush again.
"We should probably head out," said Sparky, rubbing her stomach.

"I don't know about you, but I feel hungry enough to eat a manticore. *Yawn* Pretty tired, too."
"I was planning on staying till the library closed, but I guess it won't hurt to leave a little early," Pheonix replies drowsily.
"Wow."
"What?"
"Nothin'. I'm just amazed that you still want to stay, especially since I'm pretty sure we went over everything there is to know about the Dragon Lands. Twice."
"You never know *yawns* we could've missed something."

Sparky watched as the unicorn slowly packed all her belongings into her bag--- silently debating whether this was the best time to ask Pheonix the question that had been rolling in her head since she saw the text 'power to receive all their heart's desires.' The cloaked mare felt a lump in her throat, afraid the other would either say no to her request or say yes and drive her insane from chattering. She fiddled with the strings on her cloak, and the more she did, the more she thought about what she had lost all those years ago. Sparky would do whatever it took to undo what the accident had taken from her, even if it meant traveling outside Equestria with a chatterbox.

"Hey, Phoenix?" the cloaked mare started.
"Yes," said the unicorn, now fully packed and ready to leave.
"I was wondering.., would you...? Could you consider letting a friend join you on your quest?"