Twelve

Twilight sighed.

After many hours, the library was finally quiet, but still a mess. Spike had, somehow, agreed to calm down and take Leo and Capricorn out for a lunch, a lunch that would not involve meat, followed by a tour of Ponyville, so that they wouldn't need anypony guiding them all the time. That give Twilight about two or three hours to herself. While she was in the bathroom, she had managed to make a checklist about the things she had to do today.

1. *Shut. Spike. Up.** Check.*

2. Get Leo and Capricorn out of the library by lunch time. Check.

3. Instruct Spike to take them for lunch. No fish. Check.

4. Fix her not-OCD mane. She did not have an OCD. Check.

5. Remind herself that she didn't have an OCD while cleaning up the library. Double Check. Can't be too careful.

6. Write a letter to Princess Celestia, explaining everything.

7. Await for answer.

8. Act depending on said answer.

"Let's see about that letter..." Twilight thought as she gathered ink, a quill and a scroll, her mind trying to think the best way to put the events of the last days on words. It was surprisingly hard. How could you write down the first contact with intelligent alien lifeforms?

Dear Princess Celestia.

I've just met twelve alien ponies. They are really, really nice!"

Twilight

"Too short..." she said as she threw the scroll to the garbage.

Dear Princess Celestia.

Twelve creatures from the deep reaches of space have arrived in our land. So far they appear to be well intentioned and bearers of glad tidings. I decided to withhold the information in case of unexpected developments, but since it would seem that since the events of today shall be the routine, I have chosen to inform you.

Eternally yours...Twilight.

"That sounds like something the lovechild of Rarity and Princess Luna would write...would that even be possible?" Twilight chuckled before crumpling the letter as well. This was harder that usual.

Princess Celestia

Aliens have arrived from outer space! One of them even laid eggs in my stomach! I'm going to be the mother of the first alien-pony hybrid is history!

Love Twilight.

"Gah! That's something Spike would write!" Twilight growled as she burned the letter into oblivion. She needed to focus, dangit! This was important! Taking another letter, she took a deep breath before starting to write her message.

Dear Princess Celestia.

Nearly three days ago, an strange pony crashed in Equestria, going by the name of Leo. She says to be something called a zodiac, but I have no idea what she means. A night later, eleven more of them landed here, calling themselves her brothers and sisters. They are currently staying with me and my friends, though I can't say for how long. I hope that you could give your opinion on the matter?

Your most faithful student Twilight Sparkle

"There! All done." Twilight said satisfied as she rolled the scroll and tied it up. This would be enough to inform her teacher without giving to much information. If it landed on the wrong hooves, all it would it would be create some funny rumors, but nothing more. All she had to do know was give Spike the letter so he could send it immediately.

If he hadn't gone for lunch with the zodiacs.

Twilight groaned with frustration. This days was not going well.

She huffed out of the house, scroll trailing after her. She looked over the restaurant, but they weren't there. Sugarcube corner was closed, so she could forget about it for now. However, her efforts were met with frustration. They weren't anywhere. Not even the Quills and Sofa store! Where the hay was he?!

"Are you looking for Spike?"

Twilight behind her. Scootaloo was on her scooter, patiently eyeing her. Twilight blinked a couple of times. A hair stuck out of her mane.

"Yes I am. Have you seen him?"

"Your mane looks funny."

Twilight fixed in a second.

"Have you seen him?" Twilight asked, doing her best to keep her temper in check.

"Yeah." Scootaloo answered.

Another hair stuck out.

"Where?" Twilight asked.

"He's at the bell tower. Have you seen Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle? I can't find them anywhere." Scootaloo said. Twilight sighed. Finally a lead.

"I think I heard her earlier around the library. You should check there."

"Thanks Twilight!" Scootaloo said before scooting away at her usual dangerous speed. Meanwhile, Twilight made her way to the bell tower. Lo behold, there he was, Spike, along Leo, Capricorn.

"And this the bell tower. We use i for the festivals. Makes a great warning sign too." Spike explained.

"It looks rather old. Is it safe to ring it?" Capricorn asked.

"Of course it is. Go and test if you want." Spike said. Leo picked a rock with a hoof and threw it at the bell, making a clear, loud banging sound that echoed through the land. Silence followed before a loud crack was heard and the bell plummeted inside the tower, crushing everything inside. A small cloud of dust floated outside.

"Good thing it was safe." Capricorn said.

"It was faulty! Why didn't you tell me it was faulty!" Leo complained as she walked up to Spike, making him stumble to the ground,only to be immediately picked by Twilight's magic.

"Twilight! Am I glad to see you!"

Twilight set him on the ground before stepping on his tail. Hard. Spike burped a flame, which Twilight threw the scroll into, burning it to a crisp.

"You two. Library. Now. Spike, I want you to gather the rest and bring them too." Twilight ordered.

"I do not believe you have the authority to command us." Leo said. Twilight gave her a glare that could freeze Tartarus in a second, her mane starting to get messy again. Spike recognized the signs immediately, and knew exactly what was going to happen. And it was not going to be pretty.

"Now." Twilight said as she horn lit up. A second later, all four of them were in the library. Spike was all scorched, while Capricorn and Leo stumbled a few seconds before falling on their backs, completely disoriented and nauseated. Twilight huffed a few seconds. It seemed that using her magic on zodiacs was more taxing than usual. Maybe they were magic resistant, or perhaps she was unused to their anatomy. Right now she didn't care.

"Go."

Spike shakily nodded before scampering out of the library. He knew when to listen to Twilight, when not to listen to Twilight, and when to obey Twilight.

"Wha...what just happened?" Leo asked as she shakily stood up. Capricorn still laid on his back, the world still spinning.

"I teleported you. First timers always get some nausea. You'll get over it soon." Twilight said as she started cleaning up the landing site.

"W-why do you need all of us?" Leo asked, shaking off the last bit of nausea. Twilight once again fixed her mane, now calmer, before answering.

"I'm probably going to have a very important visitor coming, and I would like it if you could all be there."

Leo sat, her mind still spinning a bit while Capricorn slowly got up. It was then when they felt it. It happened. That happened.

"What is it?" Twilight asked after seeing Leo and Capricorn freeze in place.

"Something happened." Leo said.

"What happened? How do you know something happened." Twilight asked.

"We zodiacs can sense when one of us is using a large portion of their powers..." Capriconr explained. The door of the library blasted open.

"Twilight we have a problem!" Spike shouted as she ran inside, alerting all three of them.

"The zodiac twins and the cutie mark crusaders are missing!"