Balance within Harmony

It was Friday afternoon and Twilight was tired already. Whilst Ponyville's Treehouse Library was his personal home, it was obviously used by the other Ponies in town, and Fridays the library open to the public all day. Now, the citizens didn't care for about half the books which were high level magic, but there were also sections on History, Science, Art and of course fiction. And a fair amount of books for the foals at Cheerilee's Schoolhouse.

There were a couple of ponies browsing around, picking up books and returning them not quiet in the same place, and Twilight was just starting to let off little puffs of steam from the top of his mane. Before he had a chance to explode, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had come running into the Library straight after school - Twilight could practically set his watch by them.

"My Little Ponies" He called out a little too cheery to the three foals, to break his frustration "How are you this fine day"

"We're great Twilight" Applebloom boomed "Just getting a head start on our homework so we can spend all weekend trying to get our Cutie Marks"

"I have this great plan for Cutie Mark Crusaders Spelunkers" Scootaloo called out looking over the extreme sports section (which given the library had been restocked by Twilight wasn't very big). "Do you have anything for that?"

A purple glow surrounded one of the books and Twilight passed a book to Scootaloo "Here you go Scoots, a book about rambling and low level mountaineering. It has some local maps and routes in it."

"Rambling and Climbing, isn't that a bit boring Mr Sparkle" Scootaloo responded, a hint of sarcasm and disapointment in her voice as she spread her wings to carry the book.

"Well, if you can master that I'll show you some more of the extreme climbing and caving maps. But I want to ensure you can handle them first" Scootaloo's body language picked up a little at the thought of more adventures to come

"That's a great safe idea" Sweetie nodded in agreement and rubbed a bruise on her flank "It's not like we've had much success at heights"

"Hey Twilight, we have to do a book report on some local history, any ideas?" Applebloom interrupted.

"Hmmmm" Twilight thought for a moment, and then grabbed two books from the history section, one older and one very new looking "How about the story of Nightmare Moon? Afterall, given that two of you have sisters who are bearers at the end of the story..."

"And one number one fan!" Sweetie Squeaked, smiling at Scootaloo

"...and a number one fan of the Bearer of Loyalty" Twilight added with a big smile "I think that it'll make a good report" That Sweetie Belle is sure, well sweet. Just like her wonderful sister.

"Thanks" Applebloom beamed back at the unicorn, balancing the two books on her back

"And for you?" Twilight turned to Sweetie Belle "Some fiction to read?"

"No thanks Twilight, could you show me where transformation spells are?"

Applebloom and Scootaloo were so surprised they dropped the books they had balanced, and Twilight couldn't but show a hint of surprise on his face.

"What?" Sweetie squeaked loudly "Why can't I read a magic book, I AM a unicorn?"

Twilight gulped and felt a little like how Rainbow must feel around Scootaloo, and even how he felt around the rest of the unicorns in town "Yes, of course you are. But isn't that a little advanced for you?"

"Of course! But I don't want to cast them, I just want to know more about them. You know, because you've been looking at what the elements did to you. I would like to know more about it in general" Sweetie beamed with a smile that would melt even the most hardened heart.

Twilight thought about it, and gestured towards the other side of the Library. It's not up to me to decide what Sweetie learns, and there's no way a filly as young as her could cast anything too dangerous... he thought back to when he got his Cutie Mark. Well, I did, but that's a different story!

The CMC's followed him to the magical side of the ground floor, and look around in excitement. This side of the Library was not normally visited by the rest of town, and Spike was busying himself sorting out a large pile of books on the floor.

"Twilights reading yesterday" Spike shrugged towards the foals as he climbed the ladder again Why are the books always on the top shelf?

Twilight levitated three newish looking books, and an old but thinner one, and placed them on three sides of a small round table which had some parchment and quills on it.

"Well, Cutie Mark Crusaders. These three books are beginners guides to Transformation magic, and I've also got you a book about the Elements of Harmony. Feel free to make any notes you want, but I'm afraid I can't check out magic books. It's a policy that the Princess enforces on all the magical tombs in all of Equestria's Libraries and bookshops"

The three fillies sat down and started opening the books. Applebloom and Scootaloo didn't care much for magic, but given that one of the Crusaders was trying something, they all threw themselves into it. And to Applebloom's relief this time it didn't actually mean throwing themselves into something!

***

About an hour later, after helping some of the other students find books for their reports, Twilight came back over to see how they were getting on. Scootaloo had obviously got bored and had doodled a picture of her and Rainbow Dash as Wonderbolts on her parchment. Applebloom had been reading, but had a look of pure amazment on her face.

"Hey Twilight, how old were you when you could cast stuff like this?" the earth pony asked in amazement.

Twilight thought about lying, but he felt it was wrong to lie to the Bearer of Truth's sister "Well, actually a couple of years younger then you"

The two non unicorns stared at Twilight in amazement, making Twilight a little uncomfortable I don't want to boast like that annoying Trixie filly I ended up chasing out of town!

Sweetie Belle looked up and started rolling away her parchments. She tried to levitate them into her bag, but could only muster a couple of sparks from her horn "Nevermind" she chirped and then put them in her bag with her mouth. Scoots had done the same with her picture whilst Applebloom just stared some more at Twilight.

"Find anything useful" Twilight asked, eager to see if the Unicorn had found her first visit to magic side of the Library interesting.

"Oh yes, it's given me a lot to think about" Sweetie beamed back, and then put on a serious thinking pose. Of course Sweetie Belle didn't want Twilight to change as she wanted a brother-in-law. She just needed to know if there was any chance of Twilight and the others changing back. And besides, if she did manage to find a way she would lose the brother she always wanted, but was bound to get the Cutie Mark she desired so greatly.

"Can I come back tomorrow?"

"Sorry Sweetie Belle, but the Library is closed tomorrow as I'm busy. How about Sunday?"

"Great!"

"Thanks for the books Twilight" the three foals yelled together as they started skipping out of the library"

Twilight had not seen what Sweetie Belle had written, and most of it was very basic. But there was one question on there that Twilight hadn't thought about asking, and it simply read "Alicorns: How?"

***

A little later Fluttershy came into the Library, with a worried look on her face. She went straight over to the medical section.

"Hey Fluttershy, what's up?" The library's assistant called out as approached "Anything I can help you with?"

"Hello Spike. I could do with some help...that is, if it's not too much trouble!"

"Nothings too much trouble for my friends" Spike beamed back "Something wrong?"

"Yes, I mean no, I mean a little. Rainbow Dash pulled a muscle trying to do a new trick, and I thought there may be something I can do to help him"

"Hmmm, there's a book somewhere for that" and with that Spike started looking over the bookcase.

"Oh, thank you Spike. Dash always gets into trouble and I'm used to helping out, but he's really pushing himself over this flying competition"

"Huh, yeah, he really wants to ... Pegasi Pain Problems, no that's not it...spend the day with the Wonderbolts."

"Yes, I've never seen him try so hard. I worry that he'll really hurt himself"

"Rainbow is a tough cookie, and besides he has you to look after him!"

Fluttershy started thinking to herself Yeah, for now. But everyone sees how he acts round the other fillies, showing off and everything. And yet round me he acts a lot different, so obviously he doesn't feel for me in the same way he does for the others. But when he gets injured, he always seeks me out...like I'm some kind of nurse of something! Still, I can't say no to Rainbow Dash Little did Fluttershy realise that she was the only pony Rainbow had ever felt comfortable being vulnerable around.

"Here we go, Wonderful Wing Wemedies *cough* I mean Remedies" spike suddenly pulled a book from a shelf and passed it to Fluttershy "This should help you with Dashes issues"

"Thank you spike, you are a wonderful Dragon" Fluttershy gave a gentle hug, and floated slowly away out of the Library.

"What did Fluttershy want?" Twilight asked spike as he returned to the centre desk to update the lent book list.

"Oh, the Bearer of Kindness was being Kind and Loyal to the Bearer of Loyalty - those two go well together don't you think?"

"What Fluttershy and Rainbow, or Kindness and Loyalty?"

"Both" spike replied, before running off to help Berry Dreams looking at the fiction section.

***

Later that evening, once Library hours were over, Twilight sat down to dinner with Spike. Twilight felt a bit guilty for the date he had the next day, and wanted to speak to Spike over it. However, he and Rarity had agreed to keep it all a secret for now. Caught in a duality of what to do, he was more silent then usual which put spike at a bit of unease.

"It was a busy day today, wasn't it?" Spike had resorted to standard conversational starters just to fill the silence.

"Its good to see so many ponies are reading more, I guess I'm having a positive impact in town"

"Yeah, I would never have guessed that Sweetie and her friends would have spent time sat reading Magic books before!"

"That was a bit of a shock, I guess I might need to follow up with Rarity to make sure either her or her parents have explained the dangers of magic to her"

As soon a Twilight had mentioned Rarity, Spike got a bit of a dreamy look in his eye. Whilst when they first arrived it made Twilight happy, now he was worried about going behind Spikes back.

"Spike, can I talk to you about something...something personal. As your guardian I need to make sure I help you grow up and there is something I've been meaning to talk to you about for a while, even before we moved to Ponyville"

"Sounds serious, what is it?"

Twilight took a small nibble of daisy sandwich before starting "Well, I can't help but notice that you have a bit of an attraction...to Rarity"

Spike gulped in response.

"Now, it's not up to me to tell you how to live your life, and I think I've explained the biological and mating side of things"

"Yes, you covered that very well with me!" Spike chuckled, turning red "Good job you did as well as I couldn't work out what was going on with some of the mares in Canterlot getting fat!"

"But obviously that was Pony reproduction. But you're a dragon, which means it's all different...eggs for starters. I don't know if you realise this, but there would be no way for you to have offspring with a pony"

"Offspring, I'm a little young for that right now"

"Maybe, but don't also forget that you will also live a lot longer than anyone in Ponyville. I know the Princess has prepared you for that as well"

Spikes eyes started watering up at the thought of life after Twilight "Yes, I will probably return to Dragonkind at that point." he sobbed "The Princess said I would be welcome to stay with her, but I think it'll be too hard..."

Twilight has started get tears in his eyes during this response, and levitated Spike over to give him a big motherly and brotherly hug. "Oh Spike, I didn't know" They cuddled for a while. Eventually Twilight broke the hug to have sip of water.

"Okay, so this is my point. If you were to be in a relationship with a pony, not only would you never have foals...or eggs, but you would have to watch as they died and then you would still be a young dragon in terms of your lifespan"

"Yeah, I had thought about that. I mean, its hard to even know who I should be having as friends. I hang around with you and the other bearers, but you are more like a parent to me. I suppose in terms of age and size I am more similar to Applebloom and friends?"

"Yes, but in terms of mental maturity you are in the same group as me and my friends. Maybe not got the years of experience, but you emotional and reasoning is very mature."

"Thanks Twilight, I had the best mother er sister, or whatever, growing up. And Cadence was always a good Dragon sitter as well!"

"Yes, it's something I've been worried about so wanted to make sure you were aware of it from an early age. You will have to spend your whole life in Equestria having to juggle a completely different physical and mental age compared to the ponies around you"

"So...do you think I shouldn't date Rarity"

"Oh Spike, I can't tell you that and wouldn't want to. Rarity...is a very beautiful pony but just make sure you don't let love blind you from the truth regarding any relationship you may have." Twilight felt a little guilty, but then he was doing the Dragon a favour.

Spike thought for a while "I guess you're right, I shouldn't really expect a pony to love me" he said glumly

"I love you, as do the princesses and anyone else who's ever met you"

"Oh, I know that Bro, I meant love in the other way. I know Rarity has already said that she wants to have foals when she's fully grown up, so it wouldn't be fair, would it? Besides, I know that she only has eyes for you."

Twilight started at his assistant in shock "You..you knew this?"

"Yeah, and it makes sense to me. I know you have a thing for her as well"

Twilights mouth opened but Spike put a claw up to keep him quiet

"It's okay Twilight, I know what you have said is the truth and is not done for any other reason to protect me. It's true I won't be able to give Rarity everything she needs, it's why I didn't actually ask her out"

The two old friends gave each other another long hug

"Spike, don't ever give up on love. You have a long life to lead and I'm sure that you'll find a Dragoness to fall in love with. And who knows, perhaps you will find a special somepony of your own."

"Thanks for talking to me Twilight, I hope that you and Rarity have a good date tomorrow"

"How do you know about that? It's supposed to be a secret!"

"Oh, you speak in your sleep sometimes, mostly about magic but last night you were practising some lines! Don't worry, I won't tell anypony else. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

Twilight went to the fridge and got out two big tubs of ice-cream "I think we've done enough today to deserve this" he laughed as he levitated a spoon and a whole tub over to spike.