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Now.

“What are you doing in the library?”

“Duhhhh. What do you think I'm doing. I'm reading.”

“No, I mean why are you in our library. And how did you even get in here?”

He put his hand on his hip and gave her a sassy look. “I've been using this library for a few weeks now. I need to catch up on a few things since I've been away and Canterlot Castle has one of the biggest libraries in Equestria. Not to mention several closed stacks.” He waggled his eyebrows at her at this last comment.

“Since you've 'been away'?”

“Oh, yes,” he said, waving his paw at her. “I've been travelling the world. Seeing the sights and the people. But I've done that now, so I figured I'd come back and see how Equestria has changed in the past two centuries.”

“Centuries? Now I know you're throwing nonsense about. Only spirits and extremely powerful mages can live for centuries.”

“Mmm. That's true,” he said, grinning at her.

“You still haven't told me how you got in here.”

“Well your castle doesn't appear to have some sort of magical field around it and there aren't any powerful energies that can deflect basic intrusion magic. Really, you guys should look into that. Surely not all your enemies are going to be of the kind wielding spears and shields.”

“We have a mage among us,” said Celestia, who was still on edge. “He's our teacher.”

“Ah, so you're a student in the ways of magic too?”

“Trying to be. I'm going to be ruler of this kingdom and I want to be able to do it properly.” She looked up at Discord sharply. “And Starswirl is an amazingly proficient wizard, so don't get any ideas.”

“What sort of 'ideas' would those be?” asked Discord. “I'm just trying to read and I keep being interrupted by a mare who seems to have nothing interesting to say except that she's hot for teacher.” He buried his nose in his book again.

Celestia was furious. How dare he! Coming in here and telling her to be quiet in her own library as if she wasn't trying to study herself and he hadn't just waltzed in here and helped himself to books he didn't even own. “I am not 'hot for teacher' she said through gritted teeth. I'm betrothed if you must know, to a Prince.”

“Well, marriage is punishment for shoplifting in some countries,” said Discord, never taking his eyes off what he was reading.

“Do you have anything to say that doesn't involve being insulting?”

“Celestia, I'm trying to read. That's all. I don't want anything from you, or Starswirl or your 'betrothed' or anything along those lines. Just knowledge. Is that a crime?”

“No, but breaking into a palace is, and I can have the guards here in seconds.”

“So why haven't you yet?”

Why hadn't she? She thought about it. She was curious about the stranger, that was true. She had never seen anything like him before. It looked like there was some pony in his ancestry, but there was also dragon, and an amalgamation of other animals, though the former two stood out the most. His body was covered with brown feathers that were similar to those of a griffon, but his head and long neck were covered with grey fur. And he had seen the world! Celestia hadn't seen much of the world yet. She suspected she would once she was ruler and had to travel and cement treaties with neighbouring kingdoms, but for now she was a mare that had just come of age and most of her life involved learning royal customs. Studying magic was one of the few things in her day that interested and enthralled her.

“You're a mage?” she asked.

Discord put his hand on his hip again and gave her a look as if to say “Really. Can't anybody get any peace and quiet in here?” But then he smirked at her and said “Why are you asking?”

Celestia thought fast. “I want to know more about the magic you use.”

“Well you can't. It's not really something that you can learn in textbooks.”

“Yet you seem to be thoroughly interested in my textbooks,” Celestia pointed out.

“Was that a euphemism?”

“Be serious for just one second!”

“That would be painful,” he said, chuckling. “But I'll humour you. I'm intrigued. What could you possibly want to learn from little ol' me?”

“First of all...what are you? I've never seen a creature like you before. Not even in Asturcón's Bestiary.”
“Aren't bestiaries for non-sapient animals?” He licked his paw and slicked back his mane. “I'm a draconequus,” he said haughtily, pointing his snout in the air. “Clearly the most beautiful and graceful of Equestria's creatures.” As he was saying this he had leaned back and it had been too far. He plummeted off the top of the book stack, flapping his small wings furiously and hit the ground before he could react with magic. Celestia heard a groan. “Ow.”

Before she knew what she was doing she ran towards him. “Are you okay?” she asked. “Are...”

He suddenly vanished in a flash of white light.