Not entirely sure where else to go Zeph and Argon made their way to the central, or rather only library on the Lost Isles. Supposedly many generations ago there had been several libraries, but over time they got damaged by storms and had what remained of their collections merged at the central library, which to put simply is the most well built building in the entire Lost Isles, and would likely stand until the end of time as far as any pony was concerned. Unlike most buildings rather than being made out of random salvage and wood, the central library was made entirely of carved polished stone. While the outside of the building showed some signs of erosion, the inside still looked pristine.

Making their way into the library, Zeph made her way up to the welcome counter, where she found Emerald Pages, an older green mare with a once-yellow mane that was now gray with a few remaining yellow streaks.

Putting the strange glass and metal object on the counter, Zeph looked her old friend in the eyes and said, “Morning, Emmy. I have a couple of questions for you, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, dear. I always have time for my favorite detective.”

“First, do you recognize the symbol on the back of this thing at all? Like, does it remind you of anything you’ve seen in a book, maybe?”

Emerald looked over the object for a moment while humming, then shook her head. “Nothing particular comes to mind. Why do you ask?”

“I think it’s the secret to these things. This one was glowing for a bit, and since that’s the only symbol on it, I thought it might have something to do with getting it working again. Anyway, let’s move on to the next thing. I need a map or a guide to get to the mainland.”

Zeph’s confident smile turned to a frozen stare as Emerald’s eyes narrowed and her expression turned to one of intense seriousness. Suddenly feeling like a schoolhouse filly staring up at an angry teacher, Zeph couldn’t help but take a step back.

“The—mainland. You want to go to the—mainland?”

Zeph nodded awkwardly.

“Why?”

Zeph gulped so hard she could swear she heard it echoing throughout the library. “I-I need to return Argon to his home.” Zeph turned to her side to show Argon riding on her back.

“I remember you. You’re that rascally escape artist bunny Sundancer brought in a while ago. I suppose she did conclude that you must have come from the mainland. Still, I can hardly believe she would try and higher Zeph to take you home.”

“She didn’t hire me.“

“She didn’t?” Emerald said with a hint of surprise.

“Nope, I wandered by her shop the other day and—”

“And you did what you always do.” Zeph sighed in relief as Emerald’s intense expression softened a little. “Well, I’m sorry to say I can’t help you with that. There are no such guides, maps, nor—anything else for that matter. You need to remember the golden rule, young lady. One should never go beyond the buoys. No exceptions. Do I make myself clear?”

Feeling rather disappointed, Zeph nodded and turned to leave, as she didn’t want to risk upsetting Emerald any further.

“However, as for that symbol, you mentioned earlier. I just remembered a book we should look into.” Turning back, Zeph saw Emerald wink at her as she began trotting off into the library. “Come along dear.”

Feeling a bit confused, but hopeful, Zeph followed Emerald deep into the library, so deep in fact that she felt as though they had gone several stories underground. As the trio passed through the sixth locked stairwell, adorned with ample signs warning away any pony from entering, Zeph began to feel quite a bit uneasy, especially as both times she had tried saying anything Emerald shushed her and reminded her she was in a library.

Reaching an unassuming bookshelf, Emerald tapped a series of books, which caused a faint clicking sound. A moment later, Emerald pushed the bookcase aside just far enough for a pony to enter and waved Zeph through.

Once the trio was on the other side, Emerald closed the bookshelf, leaving them in pitch darkness for a brief moment until Zeph could suddenly see by a faint glowing green light coming from a pendant Emerald had assumably pulled out of her saddlebag and put on, as she hadn’t been wearing it before.

As Emerald began leading the way once more, she broke the long silence. “I always figured I’d bring you here someday. Though admittedly for different reasons.”

“What is this place?”

“The very heart of the Lost Isles, and all that remains of its founding.”

As the trio walked into a large dome-shaped room filled with almost entirely empty shelves lined with crystals embedded in them, which began to glow in faint green light revealing a statue of what appeared to be a female dragon standing on the bow of a ship with three Pegasus riding along with her. Beneath the statue was an ornately carved stone box with a hole in the same shape as Emerald’s pendant.

“As you have probably no doubt surmised by the statue, the legends about Pagasi being led to the Lost Isles by a dragon are, in fact, true. At least according to the notes left behind by the past caretakers, that is.” Emerald chucked awkwardly.

“Notes left behind?”

“As you can see, no original books remain. They all turned to dust long ago. The only thing left is a few journals by the previous caretakers, along with a couple of books that have been copied over the ages. I’ve done my part by making fresh copies of everything left. Sadly, past caretakers didn’t always do the same.”

“So, not to go too far off topic, but I really want to know…”

“You’re wondering what happens if I put my pendant in the slot in the box, aren’t you?”

Zeph nodded enthusiastically.

“You’re in luck, as we need to head down there, anyway.”

A moment after Emerald put her pedant in the slot, the floor opened up, revealing a staircase down another floor. Emerald began walking down and motioned for Zeph to follow.

“According to the journals Amber, the dragon who lead the Pagasi to the Lost Isles, crafted several compasses and imbued them with her magic. These compasses allowed Pagasi to navigate the whirlpool maze that surrounds the islands. Amber herself could fly unlike Pagasi, so she didn’t need them herself, but she wanted to ensure that the Pagasi could come and go as they pleased after she was gone.”

“I’m guessing you have one of the compasses?”

“Indeed, in fact, two remain to this day.”

As the trio reached the bottom of the stairs, they entered a hallway lined with dragon statues. Zeph was quick to notice that many of the statues were holding something. The first a stone tablet, the second a metal box, the third a crystal, the fifth an ornate stone staff with a green sphere atop it, the sixth hands were empty, but it was wearing a pendant that looked just like Emeralds, the seven a compass, and well there were more statues Zeph couldn’t see well enough down the dimly light passage way to make out what they had.

Emerald took the compass from the statue and handed it to Zeph.

“The stone tablet the first statue was holding has the route you need to follow, but I already have several paper copies made. Which will give you two parts of your three part puzzle.”

“What’s the final part?”

“Some way to use them. No living pony has experience sailing boats on the open water beyond the peaceful shores of the Lost Isles. It’s a two-day voyage though what is described as a parlous journey best left to only those who are one with the water.”

“Uhm, hmm … That could be a bit of a problem.”

Emerald nodded. “Indeed, I’d say a near hopeless venture.”

“If you think it’s hapless, why give me the compass and route?”

“Because I want you to have a chance. You’re the only pony on the Lost Isles I wanted to entrust becoming a caretaker to. If I let you go out without them, it would be certain death. At least with them you have a slim chance of survival.”

“That’s not very encouraging.”

“And yet, is it discouraging?”

Zeph laughed awkwardly as she thought about the fact that she was already trying to figure out the best solution to make it to the mainland. Not at all whether or not she should be going there.

“That’s what I thought. I’ve been watching and helping you solve cases since you were a filly. I know you don’t back down from a case once you set your mind on it without good reason, and the unknown is not a good reason for you.”

“The unknown is just another mystery to be solved. Speaking of mysterious… I have so many questions.”

“Which I will gladly answer if you promise to disregard your quest to return the bunny to the mainland.”

“W-what?”

“I don’t want you to go. It’s foolhardy and honestly just plain dumb. You and that bunny can both live long, happy lives here. There’s no good reason to risk near certain death.”

“He has some pony important waiting for him.”

“They can get another bunny, I’m sure. Pets come and go in our lives all the time. Honestly, it’s no small miracle that he survived getting here. If he was a pony, I’d tell him to not test his luck any further.”

Feeling a weight lift from her back, Zeph turned to see Argon hopping down. Walking in front of her, he motioned for her to hand him the compass, which she did. He looked at it solemnly for a few moments before hopping up the statue it had been on and placing it back in its hands, as if to declare he understood the risks and agreed with Emerald.

Zeph watched the heart-broken bunny slowly drag himself down the statue and begin walking back up the stairs.

“Hey!” Zeph yelled towards Argon in a thundering voice that caused it to echo several folds. “We’re not giving up.”

Argon looked back at her and shook his head, as if to say, “it’s over.”

Zeph walked over to him and stomped her hoof on the ground. “Look me in the eye and tell me you’re truly fine with never seeing that earth pony again.”

Argon tried to look Zeph in the eyes, but turned his head away after every try.

“We are going to get you back to your home.”

Argon looked towards Zeph, perplexed as if to say, “but why?”

“Will life ever feel the same without her in your life?”

Argon shook his head.

“Do you have the ability to get back to her on your own?”

Argon shook his head.

“Well, I do. Sure, it might be slim, but it’s there. And before you go thinking, I’m just overly selfless. I’m not. I’ve wanted a real mystery to solve my entire life. This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. A mysterious bunny from a mysterious land, a mythical race of ponies turned real, legends of dragons declared fact, magical artifacts, secret conspires. If I don’t help you, it’ll haunt me for the rest of my life. If you can look me in the eye and tell me you’ll be happy staying on the Lost Isles, I’ll let it go, but if you can’t, we’re taking that compass.”

Zeph watched as Argon struggled to look her in the eyes again. After a couple of moments, Zeph walked back to the statue and put the compass in her saddle bag before returning to Argon and giving him a reassuring smile.

“We’re getting you home, and I don’t want you feeling guilty about it, no matter what any pony says.”

Argon looked Zeph in the eyes and smiled weakly as if to say, “Thank you, but you really don’t have to.”

“You’re a real softy at heart, aren’t you?”

While Argon looked at her awkwardly, Zeph stepped towards him and gave him a hug.

Emerald cleared her throat. “I have a few questions if you’re done…”

Author's Note

Zeph is a—very selfish pony.

Also this is as far as I've written before I started posting on Fimfiction. So, further chapters will come sporadically as life allows me to write. As long as my Niece and Nephew are enjoying the story I'll likely finish around 2 chapters a week.