Chronicles of Equestria I: The Tome, the Stranger and the Book Club

Parties are the best thing that ever sparked out of anypony’s mind. Fact. Who would disagree? When done right, they have snacks, drinks, music, games, contests and most importantly: Ponies! Indeed when a party is done right, it means a good time to all!

Naturally, if somepony’s special talent is throwing parties then it is normal that her surroundings put two and two together coming to the simple, pure and utterly straightforward conclusion:

If she makes a party: Be there.

Ponyville learned this lesson about its pink heart of gold long ago, so naturally the house she secured for the party this afternoon was already filled with ponies of all age groups. Ponies that weren’t there were either working or resting. Though if there would have been any such pony in the town, sugar allergy would have been a good excuse as well, because the air wasn’t sweet simply because of the friendly atmosphere.

The pink mare obviously did not forget the fact that the guest of honour in today’s party is somepony who was introduced to the powerful magic of cupcakes only yesterday. The house was filled with many various, colourful baked sweets, in fact trying to list them all out by name would take a true expert in the field of bakery.

When she was new in town Twilight Sparkle couldn’t quite imagine how her friend could even afford to basically give away all these sweets. Of course she had more than enough time to learn that unique feel small towns have but cities like Canterlot and Manehatten lack. While in a big city money speaks, in a small society like this, everypony helps out each other so no pony really has to lack.

This spirit was the product and fuel of any festivities and the reason why events like Winter Warp-Up and Fall of Leaves - that would look like manual labour for any city pony - is transformed into a town festival.

This silent, open, helpful and most of all: friendly pact is what Twilight accused herself of breaking. It bursting around her into a huge colourful firework in the form of a Pinkie party didn’t exactly help the librarian ease her mind in this matter.

Going to sleep last night, she was hoping she’d wake up with a cleared mind but instead all her mistakes united and fell upon her as a singular mass of doubt.

First she questioned her friends and decided to change them by enrolling them into a book club! Why wouldn’t she be happy with what she had before? Then she acted towards that poor stallion as if he would be a criminal! Where did her open mindedness go? Finally she even distrusted one of her best friends, thinking Pinkie would just ruin a petty little balance that probably wasn’t even necessary! Why is she such a horrible friend?

She quietly grunted to herself, sitting in a corner at a table. Around her the party was as lively as any other Pinkie Party, in fact a bit even more! Everypony was laughing or singing along as Princess’s “Equestrian Rhapsody” filled the room, except Twilight and Applejack who just went off to “Find somepony”.

The song usually would have made the librarian feel better, if for nothing, else then for the fact that she was a great fan of the book the popular song is based off: “The Sackless Regicider”, a historical fiction about a young colt serving as court scribe, who was seduced by a foul witch and tricked into killing his Queen many-many years ago, even before the union of the three races.

Today however, the story of a pony who against his will betrayed his people and was horribly punished for it, didn’t bode well with the anxious mare.

Twilight was staring at her orange friend’s untouched glass on the table, lost in her thoughts when Pinkie Pie’s voice somehow broke through the noise generated by everypony yelling “He’s just a poor colt, from a poor family!” at the same time.

'Twi!' she called out merrily to her purple friend but her voice sounded slightly worrisome. 'Don’t you like the party? I mean everypony is having such a blast! Do you want some more punch?'

'It’s not the party Pinkie. She’s concerned about the new pony.' explained Applejack who brought the party pony here.

'Applejack please...' Twilight said but her, weak faltering voice was overpowered by seven powerful “NO!”-s shouted by the crowd. Twilight shunned her ears back and yelled over the coming chorus: 'I don’t want to talk about it!' She stood up and added: 'I’ll go get some fresh air.'

'But!' started Pinkie before being quickly interrupted by Applejack:

'Mahybe she’s right. A little air will do her good.'

Stepping out of the house, Twilight looked to the west to get a sense of time. Pinkie’s afternoon parties usually lasted at least until sundown and the lavender mare had to note with a slight sense of frustration that it won’t come for about three more hours.

While looking at the sun she also noticed the crown of the tree-house she called her home. For a moment she played with the thought of perhaps just going home and taking a long bath, but walking out on her friend’s party would just make her an even worse friend. She turned her back on the sun but a moment later stepped back, startled.

Coming out of the house, she didn’t notice but now she could see that Oakleaf was sitting against the wall across the door. He hung his head with eye closed shut, ears drawn back and eyebrows wrinkled, she could even see that his body was shaking a bit.

'A-Are you alright?' she asked instinctively.

'Huh?' the stallion’s head flung up instantly and looked in Twilight’s direction. He quickly jumped up and even his body stopped shaking. 'Sorry, did you need me?' his voice stumbled slightly while talking but his face cleansed itself of all emotion.

'Oh no, I just came out for a little air.' answered Twilight apologetically. “What could it be that moved him so much? Oh I hope it’s not the tome. But it must be! What else could it possibly be? Now look at what you’ve done! Get out of here.” she whipped herself mentally and took a few steps towards the door. 'I’m so sorry for disturbing you. I’d better go.'

'No, you didn’t disturb me!' replied Oakleaf and shunned his ears back again. 'I’m sorry if I made you think that, it’s just this...' his voice dropped before the end of the sentence. 'Well just the crowd and...' He sighed and paused to gather his thoughts. 'It’s just this whole place.' he explained and gestured with his head around the houses. 'It has an air where you can feel that somepony might just burst into a song at any moment.' he paused. 'And not just during these parties. Not sure you understand...'

'Actually, I think I do understand.' Twilight stopped and closed the door of the house from the outside. She knew exactly what the stallion meant. The joy and carefree happiness of Ponyville was one of the things that made he most afraid recently.

It felt as if she lost something - or even worse: never had that one special thing that makes the other villagers who they are. Somehow the way the stallion noted the cloudless mentality of the town, the shadowy thought that lurked in the back of her head finally took form. She was afraid that she will become like she was back in Canterlot, cutting herself of off friends, concentrating more on books and stunides than on spending time with the ponies that mean the most to her.

'I used to know somepony...' the stallion started then paused for a moment. 'Well not a pony, but someone who would have loved living in a place like this.' he explained, then a little silence fell.

'Was he a Kiang?' asked Twilight.

'No she wasn’t. But I don’t think I want to talk about it.' another silence fell but this time he himself decided to break it. 'I meant to ask: how exactly can you live with that dragon?'

'Spike? What do you mean?'

'Well I’ve seen my share of what dragons usually do. They aren’t exactly the best librarians. Or pony friends.'

'Spike is different.' shook her head the lavender mare. 'He may be a bit... Difficult on occasion but very rarely. He grew up here, among us. Up in Canterlot in fact.'

'I see.' nodded Oakleaf in slight disbelief.

'If you don’t mind me asking, what did you mean about “Seeing your share of dragons?” It sounded a bit... personal.'

'It was.' replied Oakleaf with a weak smile. 'Well more personal for the Kiang. They didn’t live like you do here. There were two groups of them where I came from, both distrusting the other. I suppose if you’re a librarian you know your history, the windigos in particular? The Kiang didn’t exactly know what they were before I met them with my books and history. They thought they were some kind of evil spirits but didn’t think further. Only thing they cared for was that a huge blue dragon called Frost kept the windigos away, in exchange for offerings. He of course knew why the windigos came back over and over, but rather lived in comfort and respect than to help them work out their differences. In fact he even praised the clan which could give him more, strengthening their rivalry. All in all, I don’t have the highest expectations of dragons.'

'Wow, well...' Twilight paused. 'Okay, many dragons are like that. Maybe even most. But Spike is an exception. He defeated his greed when it came upon him. He pushed back his nature... He is a great friend.'

'I’ve probably seen stranger things so I won’t argue, but allow this old fool to keep his caution.' Oakleaf replied with a fake smile, his eyes searching the mare’s face, perhaps for signs of doubt or other such, but didn’t seem to find what he looked for.

Twilight didn’t like the stallion’s stare but didn’t want to be rude so just wrinkled her eyebrows.

'Excuse me.' Oakleaf’s searching gaze quickly returned to the mares eyes. 'Old habit.'

The stallion sighed and looked away down the street, examining the houses.

Twilight felt terrible again. This stallion, looking down the street, didn’t feel anything like the one who fell out of the sky, cheering. Nor the stallion who merrily came in the library this morning.

The moment she gave him the letter this morning felt exactly like when she took away his tome. The way he looked up from the letter and asked if his book was indeed with the Princess was terrible. The way he just took a breath and didn’t argue about it further was even worse if that’s possible.

She needed to take her mind off of this so she said the first thing that came to her mind:

'Did Rarity make a suit for you then?'

' "Rarity"? Ah yes that was her name.' nodded the stallion to himself then turned around to the librarian. 'I think I might have broken something in her.' he said with a sarcastic smirk. 'She insisted on designing me an extravagant suit but that didn’t really work out. So I’ve shown her in a gallery a picture of what I had in mind and...' The stallion chuckled a bit. 'I don’t know what your friend has against hats, or just Fedoras specifically, but she definitely asked me at least four times if I really want “...A Fedora?” ' - he explained mimicking a special voice of disbelief, oh so unique to the fashionista. He chuckled a bit then took a brief look inside through the window. 'Well they’re slowing down...'

'You want to go in?' asked Twilight.

'No, not really.' he shook his head. 'Anyway, your friend said she’ll have the suit ready by tomorrow morning so I’ll probably leave then. Not even sure if I will come back after then, given the situation. Funny how my welcome party is probably my goodbye party as well.'

“Given the situation.” She probably ruined the opinion of this stallion regarding all of Ponyville. Can she sink no deeper?

'I feel a bit bad though.' continued the stallion. 'Here I am, in your town, you obviously feel terrible for something and I keep on talking about myself.'

'I’m not feeling bad.' lied Twilight.

'Please.' the stallion raised his eyebrows and forced a supportive smile on his face. 'You are switching your stare between my eyes very quickly, you are taking unnaturally long breaths, your facial muscles are lax, you came out of one heck of a party from what I can see and most of all: You said you understand what I meant when I complained about the joyfulness of this place, with sincere agreement in you voice.

Twilight felt thrown off as she realized how all the proof listed fitted on her. Being read like a book opened way for a torrent of feelings but gladness, relief and happiness was not among them. Is she truly this obvious? A complete stranger can read her like this? Can he also see how bad a friend she is? How does he gather the nerve to read into others like this?

Her feelings are her own! She will share them with whom she wants, when she feels ready! In fact she shouldn’t even be here. She didn’t feel like partying, she just allowed Applejack to talk her into it! “Pinkie’s party will make you feel all better, ya hear Twi?” Well she isn’t feeling better! Actually she just feels worse!

'I don’t think I want to talk about it.' replied the mare coldly.

As if feeling the sudden drop of mood outside, the pink party maker struck her head out the door. Twilight turned away from the stallion and looked at her friend.

'Oh there you are Twilight!' she chirped merrily while her puffed up hair bounced around carelessly from the sudden movements. 'I’ve got a huge surprise, just for yooouuu!'

'For me?' asked the unicorn mare, her voice giving space to a little surprise in the cold. This wasn’t her party.

'Yuh huh!' Pinkie nodded glaringly. 'Oooh! I just can’t hold it back! You know when yesterday you came into Sugarcube Corner with all those books? Well I saw that you had one about starting book clubs sticking out of your bag a little! I first thought you just bought it for the library but then wondered: Who in Ponyville would want to read a book about starting book clubs? And Ahhh! It came me! You! You would! So I asked Mr. Oakleaf if he’d like a welcoming party, tied together with a surprise crowd gathering party! For you! So you can start your very own club easily!'

Twilight’s eyes twitched a bit.

'Now come on in silly! I’ve already passed out cards so everypony can know about your club!'

Twilight remained silent.

'Are you alright Miss Sparkle?' asked Oakleaf and walked around the mare so he can look at her.

'I didn’t ask for this.' Twilight noted simply.

'Is there something wrong Twi?' asked Pinkie concerned. 'I thought you’d be happier.'

'Well I’m not!' The librarian stomped on the ground with one hoof. 'I don’t...' “I don’t want you to patronize me.” “I don’t deserve your help.” “I don’t want to be here.” “I don’t even know if I want a book club anymore!” So many thoughts ran through Twilight’s mind, but she didn’t want to say any of them. She just wanted to get some peace and quiet. She wanted to be alone. 'I’m sorry but I’m not feeling too well. I think I’ll go home. I’m sorry.'

Twilight quickly trotted past the two ponies, not giving chance for any resistance and not looking back. Why did Pinkie have to pass out those cards? The unicorn knew her friend was liable to take liberties when it comes to making others happy, even unwittingly going against somepony’s will. Right now though? She didn’t care. All she wanted was to get far away from that stupid party and be alone.

When she knew she was out of sight, she raised her tempo and particularly galloped the rest of the way to her home. Her mind shouted at her all of her accusations, her rudeness, her lack of trust in her friends, her negative assumptions and that she is slowly returning to her isolated, Canterlot self.

She opened the door of the library with such force it opened all the way and hit the wall.

'Hu-uh?' asked Spike in confusion. He was snoozing in a corner with a scroll in his hands with some kind of sketch on it.

Twilight didn’t stop, just trotted past the dragon and up the stairs. She quickly made her way into the bathroom and locked the door.

Her eyes felt puffed up and sore, her vision blurred, she used her magic to start the water in the tub. She lifted up her rubber duck and flung it across the room. She wanted to throw it at something but at the last moment she didn’t release her magic’s hold instead just placed the innocent yellow bathroom decoration on the sink.

'Are you alright Twilight?' came Spike’s voice from the door soon enough.

'I’m taking a bath!' she yelled out the door but her voice chocked up, trying to sound indifferent.

'You sure? You sound a bit off!' replied back the baby dragon with concern in his voice.

'I’m just feeling a bit sick, don’t worry...'

'Should I get you something Twilight?' asked the dragon through the door.

'N-no... Thank you Spike. I think we should close up the library for today. If you want you can go off, Pinkie’s party is still going so...'

'Are you really sure you don’t need anything Twilight? You sound really bad.' asked the dragon a final time.

'Yes. I’m sure.'

'Okay then...' the dragon paused. 'Well I guess I’ll leave you to it then. I’ll be at the party then, if you need me... I’ll be there. Good night!'

'Good night Spike...' she whispered, the dragon probably didn’t even hear it.

What did she do now? She sent off her oldest friend and faithful assistant. The dragon who was with her everytime she needed help! Why couldn’t she just open that damn door and hug him? That would have made her feel better. It’s too late now to go after him. Well he’s probably still here but... She doesn’t deserve him. She doesn’t deserve anypony.

Twilight closed the water off and without a halt stepped into the tub. The water was very hot but she didn’t really care about it anymore. With a brief burst of magic, she turned the light off and sunk neck-deep into the water.

The hot liquid swept through her fur, smoldering her skin underneath. The physical sensation mixed with her pent-up emotions was too much for her to take and the held back tears started pouring out of her eyes, creating two small streams, running around her muzzle and finally mixing into the hot bath water.

'Why am I turning into such a terrible friend?' she said to herself.

Next morning went by long and sour for Ponyville’s librarian. She didn’t leave the house at all and spent most of her time in the bedroom. She tried to get started on “The Black Stallion” again but her thoughts over powered her and by the fifth page she wasn’t sure what she read before. She moved on to the detective story “The Curious Disappearance of Mayor Ribbon Glow” to try and concentrate her mind but it was of no use.

Her assistant picked up on her depression quickly and stayed in the house as well. Twilight seemed to be just all the more nervous when he was around so he just stayed downstairs in earshot and went through his morning checklist. When done, he took out an empty scroll and started sketching to pass the time. Only time he went into the bedroom was to give his friend breakfast.

Just as noon was approaching and the dragon started wondering if he should disturb Twilight once more to ask her about lunch; somepony knocked at the door.

'Coming!' he shouted stolidly and walked over to open the door. His mood experienced a sensation of quickly lifting then droping back when he opened the door.

'Is Twilight home?' asked Rainbow Dash, standing in the door. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rarity all stood behind her.

'Uh yeah...' started Spike. He knew that they were probably here to cheer up Twilight but he was unsure how she would feel about that right now. 'I don’t think she wants visitors though.'

'Well from what Applejack and Pinkie told us she needs visitors.' countered Rarity.

'Sitting in her room won’t do her any good.' added Applejack.

'Alright, alright! I’m with you.' Spike backed away from the door. 'All I’m saying is that she may not be in the best mood right now.'

The five ponies walked in behind each other and after Spike noted that their friend is upstairs in her bedroom, they continued there.

'Come in Spike.' came Twilight’s voice weakly through the bedroom door after they knocked.

'We’re not Spike! Guess again!' replied Pinkie misschievously, keeping the door closed.

'Pinkie, this is not the time.' rebuked Rainbow and pushed in the door.

'Girls?' asked Twilight surprised.

By her standards, the unicorn’s room was a complete mess. A large number of papers laid on the floor, folded into various shapes. The ruins of a half eaten breakfast were on her drawers and the books she bought two days ago in Canterlot now laid in a heap on the ground with the exception of two which were now laid open on her bed and in turn, on her as well, since she was resting in her bed and zealously staring at the ceiling before her friends arrived. Owloysius himself was sitting over the end of her bed, guarding over her.

'You came to me?' Twilight’s voice sounded glad for a moment but then she looked down. - Please don’t do this... Just. Leave please. - she turned around in the bed making the two books break the coming silence with respectfully quiet ‘thud’s as they slid off her blanket and the bed, to the wooden floor.

'A-Are you alright Twilight?' asked Fluttershy finally, but pulled back her head quickly, feeling awkward for being the one to speak up.

'Please Twi,' said Applejack and walked closer to her friend. 'whatever it is you can tell us.'

'No it’s just...' The purple unicorn pulled the blanket higher and shunned her ears back. 'I’m just a terrible friend. Nothing else to it.'

'Pfffft.' Rainbow snorted, chuckling. This gaining a stern look from Applejack, Rarity and even the owl. 'What?'

'You’re a great friend dear,' smiled Rarity at her purple friend, though Twilight wasn’t even looking in their direction. 'whatever would make you think otherwise?'

'I don’t want to talk about it!... Please leave.' Twilight sighed loosening her grip on the blanket a little.

'She thinks she’s a bad friend for trying to change you by making a book club.' said Spike suddenly. All heads turned to the dragon now, even Twilight’s whose eyes now mirrored fear and anger. 'I’m sorry Twilight but they have to know so they can tell you how silly this all really is.'

'How did you even know?' asked Twilight, sitting up with a destructive flame in her eyes.

'You told me two days ago. Before you came up with the whole book club thing. Then yesterday night I didn’t really feel like going to the party after talking to you... And I heard you crying in the bath... You talked a lot. It was a bit scary.'

'You spied on me?' Once again, tears started building up in the unicorn’s eyes. She was utterly betrayed and her horrible idea revealed to her dearest friends.

'Hold on!' Rainbow raised her wings to hush everypony in the room. 'I don’t get this. "change us"? With a book club? Am I missing something here or this doesn’t make any sense at all?'

'I...' started Twilight. 'I didn’t like how I couldn’t talk with you about books so I thought I’d start this book club so you might get into them.' this time around it was Pinkie’s turn to chuckle.

'And that is... All of it?' asked Rainbow, raising her eyebrows and lowering her wings at the same time. 'Seriously? All this drama about that?'

'She also thought she is becoming distrus...' started Spike but Rarity interrupted him:

'Thank you for breaking the ice Spike, but I think we should let her talk her mind now.'

Owloysius added a ‘whoo’ and nodded wisely while the five ponies gathered around the bed, accidentally destroying a few paper figurines and causing Twilight to sink deeply under her blanket.

'Come on sugar cube. Ya’ll need to get it off your chest.'

'I just...' the librarian took a big breath and turned to her pink friend. 'I didn’t tell you everything about Oakleaf. And I should have. I though you would over react...'

'Okay now I just know I missed something.' stopped them again Rainbow. 'Who in the hay is “Oakleaf”?'

'Oh he’s just a unicorn who’s good at making spells and comes from really, REALLY far away and was trying to get back to Equestria all his life.' explained Pinkie swiftly as if just summarizing a character from a book she read. Seeing Twilight’s confused stare she just smiled and nodded her head in Applejack’s direction. 'AJ told me after you left yesterday.'

'Great, I think I’ll just sit here and act as if I knew what you’re all talking about from now on. Okay? Okay.' With that, Rainbow sat down besides the bed.

'Aren’t you mad that I didn’t tell you Pinkie?' asked Twilight.

'Well I was a bit surprised,' Pinkie shrugged. 'but Applejack explained that you didn’t want me to make some huge party and put him in an awkward situation... Kinda like yesterday when announcing the book club without even asking you. Sorry about that. Don’t worry though, I told everypony that it’s not going to happen!'

'It’s not?' asked Fluttershy, suddenly bursting her bubble of silence. 'Uh-I mean... Never mind.'

'What is it dear?' Rarity turned to her. 'Don’t be so shy.'

'Well I just thought it was actually a very nice idea... But you don’t have to make it Twilight, if you don’t want to I was just... You know.'

'Fluttershy is right!' beamed Pinkie. 'I was actually looking forward to it a lot! Maybe that’s why I was so hasty in giving it a kick-start.'

'Wait, you mean you like books?' asked Twilight turning to the pink pony again.

'Well duh! There weren’t many things to do back home on the rock farm, so I always asked mom to read me stories! The ones we had were a bit boring though, full with poor country girls who save up a lot of money, buy a ticket to the Gala and meet their prince and live happily ever after. Prrrrrbbt.' Pinkie blown on her tongue to give weight to her disappointment. 'Not like the ones I read later! Those had adventure and mischief!'

'I'll let you know that "Grey Rose" is a very touching story! Hmmph!' Rarity replied, referring to a very old folk tale that went exactly the way Pinkie just described with the poor peasant girl and the Gala.

'See Twi?' said Applejack with a friendly smile. 'It was a great idea after all!'

She had to admit, her friends support made her feel a lot better and seeing them show such support for the idea of a book club brought back the spark of inspiration to her heart... But she still couldn’t shake off the feeling that she doesn’t deserve such support.

'But I was still selfish.' she hung her head.

'Please dear, selfish?' Rarity smiled. 'Like when I nearly destroyed Rainbow’s chance to show her incredible talent at the best young fliers competition? It was selfish of me but I realized it, apologized and you don’t see me mopping about saying how I’m a terrible friend!'

'Yeah well maybe you should be.' noted Rainbow but instantly took it back when everypony looked at her. 'I’m kidding, I kid!... I guess I was sorta selfish too when I acted like some sort of superhero, upstaging everypony.'

'Or me,' said Pinkie suddenly. 'when I didn’t ask you about advertising the book club!'

'Or me,' added Applejack. 'when Ah thought it to be more important to show to everypony that Ah can handle anything and Ah didn’t want to accept help despite obviously needing it.'

'Or when I... uhh...' started Fluttershy but couldn’t finish. After a few seconds of silence the other five broke out in laughter.

'Point is darling, we all act a bit selfish sometimes.' smiled Rarity. 'Or as it seems... Well we don’t expect you to be Fluttershy.'

'We ahll make bad decisions and act strangely sometimes.' added Applejack.

'But we always try and improve, for each other and ourselves.' nodded Rarity.

'And since we’re friends we’re here to support each other!' added Pinkie in a merry tune.

'And so you can boast about how awesome this one friend of yours is! I kid!' chuckled Rainbow.

Tears started dripping from Twilight’s eyes, but this time not from sadness. These tears no longer said: “You are a terrible friend!” and “You should just leave them alone so they can find better friends!”. Instead they cheered: “You are the luckiest pony in Ponyville!” and “You have the best friends in the world!” A glimmering thought of unworthiness remained in the back of her head but she couldn’t care less about it as she looked at the smiling faces of her friends who took time off their day just to come and cheer her up!

'You girls are the best!' she said, not even trying to hold back her tears anymore and jumped out of the bed to give a big hug to each of them.

Spike didn’t move from the door during the entire episode, just hung onto the door frame and waited to see how Twilight will turn out.

'Uh... I’m sorry I listened in on you last night.' he said once the ponies calmed down.

'Spike!' Twilight said the name with a strange mixture of limitless gladness and equal regret. 'How could I be so mean to you?' Twilight used her magic to lift the unsuspecting dragon from the door and flew him to herself. If not for her faithful assistant, maybe she would have just sent away her friends and who knows what would have come of that? She would surely be feeling miserable right now.

'He-hey! Quit it!' protested the dragon as Twilight gave him too a big hug in the air and nuzzled him.

'Thanks for staying with me Spike. Thanks for everything.' the purple unicorn said.

'You did wonderfully Spikey.' agreed Rarity and nuzzled the dragon’s head once Twilight put him down. Spike had to admit that this day seemed to turn out a lot better than what he had expected.

'Hey! I’ve got a GREAT idea!' hopped up Pinkie. 'Since everypony seemed to agree that a book club would be a great, idea and we are in the library anyway, why don’t we celebrate by holding the first meeting? I mean, if you want to, Twilight. Wouldn’t you like that?'

'Actually that would be awesome!' shined up Twilight. This was better that everything she hoped.

'Uh... sorry but that won’t fly with me.' said Rainbow. 'I’ve uh... promised Tank I’d spend today with him.'

'I’m terribly sorry but I still need to finish a few dresses dear.' Rarity shook her head as well. 'But it is fine, you can have it without me! Maybe if you tell me when next one will be I can make a little time.'

'I’ve got time.' noted Fluttershy supportively.

'Well time Ah’ve got too, but frankly I’m as hungry as a horse so if you don’t mind...' began Applejack before being stopped by Spike.

'I’ve got that covered!' he said proudly. 'Just tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you! It’s the least I can do to make this work!'

'Actually if you don’t mind, I’d like something too.' said Twilight, quickly followed by Pinkie and Fluttershy. The four of them summarized something simple, not wanting to overburden the eager little dragon.

'Aaaalright, will get it done!' Spike said and left the room.

Moments later Rarity and Rainbow said their goodbyes as well and left the room. Twilight by now locked all of her previous bad thoughts away in the back of her head and was running through lists of stories that should be interesting to start on.

'Ah almost forgot!' Applejack broke her friend’s line off thought suddenly and took off her hat, revealing a small square piece of paper. 'I’ve invited our stallion friend back to stay last night but he had to leave with a train this morning. He asked me to give you this whenever I can.'

'Oh?' Twilight gently lifted the piece of paper from the hat and it was instantly obvious that it was an envelope. Not that envelopes would have been unheard of in Equestria but ponies usually just used scrolls to convey messages unless it was something formal or celebratory.

A sinking feeling of her bad behaviour towards the stallion and the fact that she never got to apologize properly took hold of her for a moment, but then she looked at the smiling face of Pinkie who was searching through one of the bookshelves and Fluttershy and Applejack and somehow... It seemed to matter less all of a sudden.

She flew the envelope over to her cabinet for later reading, she didn’t want to get distracted now that she finally had a chance to talk about her dearest passion with the ponies who are most dear to her.

She proceeded to loudly list out a few of her favourite stories, hoping the other three would recognize some of them, while also tracing back the lists of stories she organized in her mind back when the book club was her only worry.

Back when she was just as carefree as now.