//------------------------------//
// A Quiet Evening in the Library 
// Story: Twilight's Library 
// by Late_To_The_Party 
//------------------------------//

	Twilight closed the book she had been reading.  A single tear rolled down her cheek and splashed onto the purple and green cover.

“You were going to tell her,” she whispered.  She looked at the smouldering remains in the fireplace, where she had thrown Spike’s letter hours before, ripping it out of his grasp just before he could send it to the Princess.  He never even knew she was there.  He didn’t understand that all she wanted was to keep him safe.  Now she would never be able to tell him.  The teardrop on the book was joined by another.

He was afraid.  Afraid of her.  Another tear hit the book.

Twilight sniffled and wiped her eyes.  She stood up and carried Spike to the shelves.  She gently wiped the tears off the cover and set him on the shelf next to Rarity.

“I know it’s where you’d want to be,” she said to him, trying to smile.

I’m scared.

“Don’t be scared, Spike.  You’re safe now.  You’re all safe.”  She looked at Pinkie Pie.

It’s no fun being a book.

“Isn’t it more fun than having a broken leg?”  She asked, looking at Applejack.  “Or worse?”  She added with a glance at Rainbow Dash.

I can’t buck apples like this.

“You couldn’t with a broken leg, either.”

How am I going to join the Wonderbolts now?

“Well, you...”

Mah leg would have healed.

“But...”

Um, I can’t take care of the animals if I’m a book.

“I...”

How will I ever design another dress?

Twilight’s lower lip quivered.

This is the worst party ever.

Her eyes brimming with tears, Twilight looked around the room.  She realized that the last time most of the ponies she saw had been in the library was at the party welcoming her to Ponyville.

I just don’t know what I did wrong...

“You didn’t do anything wrong!”

Then why did you do this to us?

“I did it to keep you safe!  How many times to I have to tell you that?”

Why would I want to be safe if I can’t do what I love?

What’s the point of existing like this?

This isn’t really living.

You killed us, Twilight Sparkle.

You killed all of us.

Twilight frantically looked around the deafeningly silent room, cowering under nonexistent accusing glares, her tears flowing freely.  “I SAVED YOU ALL!  WHY DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?” She screamed before collapsing to the floor, sobbing.