Here is where our hero enters. (Well, at least a decent substitute for a hero, until I, Scroll, am able to get to the part where I’m introduced.) The earth pony casually walked into the library, smiling his all too happy smirk. His small pair of silver rimmed sunglasses hung far down on his nose, making them completely useless for protecting his rather large blue eyes. His cutie mark, which consisted of 3 separate, black question marks, was contrasted by his green coat. And on his sides he wore a brown, faded saddle bag which was curiously empty at the moment.
“Hey Scops! What are you doing here? I thought you were going to visit your friends in Ponyville?” Twilight asked, shocked at seeing the black-maned colt still in Canterlot.
“Ehh, I was going to get on the next chariot out, but then I realized I didn’t have anything to do on the way… So I thought ‘Hey, why not go see Twi and ask for a book? That seems like a relatively good idea!’ But, judging from the distraught look on your face and the overall messiness of the place, I think I may have come at the wrong time.”
“Ah, okay. I thought you had invited me to do something and I had forgotten to make an excuse- I mean, offer a viable explanation as to why I couldn’t-”
“What? Twilight, I think you need a break from school. I think it‘s starting to effect you‘re psyche… and your memory. I‘m starting to worry Twi.” Scops said with concern as he interrupted the bookish unicorn. He then promptly sauntered across the room and looked through the some of the amassed books which had fallen from a nearby shelf, more than likely due to the hectic search for the book which Twilight had used to dig herself into an abysmal punishment from her mentor. He quickly grabbed one that caught his eye. “Ah! A collection of Sir Arthur Colton Doyle’s best work! That’ll do nicely!”
“You do know it’s at most a one hour trip, right Scops?” Spike asked, apparently feeling insulted that he did not get so much as a hello from the colt.
“Mmmphgah? Mah! Mhike!” Scops replied. He then realized that in order for others to understand him he would have to spit out the book which he was carrying in his mouth. “Ah! Hey Spike! How’s it going?” He said, sans book “And yeah, I do know it‘s only a one hour trip, that’s why I grabbed a collection of only his best work. If it was two I would’ve brought something thicker, like his complete works. Or maybe some of Shake Speares’ comedies, those always kill a good hour or two … either that or put me to sleep .” He mused to himself.
Spike simply stared at the strange stallion and shook his head “Sometimes, I worry about you Scops. Actually, make that most of the time.”
“Well, I’m glad someone does, cause I certainly don’t.” The earth pony replied, smirking. “Welp, before I head out I gotta ask ya something Twi. What’s up with the sour look?”
“Hmm, what sour look? I don’t have a sour look.” Twilight lied.
“It looks like you ate around… hmm… 42 lemons… rind and all. Honestly Twi, you look like someone went and kicked your puppy. You look as if someone took a leak in your breakfast cereal of choice. I could go on, but I don’t think it’s really necessary now is it?”
“No, it’s not necessary! But well... If you must pry-”
“Oh, I must! I must!” Scops interrupted with enthusiasm which was probably most unbecoming of himself.
“The princess is punishing me!" Twilight screamed, "She’s sending me to Ponyville to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration! All because I mentioned some dusty, ancient prophecy I was reading!”
“That stinks, but eh, look on the bright side Twi!” Scops said, grinning foolishly.
“What bright side? Now I have to spend the Summer Sun Celebration with strange ponies, in a strange town, and the entire time I’m there I’ll be focused on the return of Nightmare Moon!”
“Nightmare Moon? Is that the prophecy you mentioned to the princess?”
“Err, well…”
“Twilight, you do know that Nightmare Moon is, essentially, a horrible, evil presence which took over Princess Celestia’s sister, and forced her to commit a horrifying act against all of ponykind? I can understand why she may seem a tiny bit upset at you bringing that up…”
“I guess you’re right…” The purple unicorn sighed. She shifted uncomfortably from where she’d been lying down for the last couple of minutes. That was also when she noticed that Spike had been busy packing her things into several massive suitcases for her. “Uhh, Spike? What are you doing? We’re going to be traveling by chariot, we can’t carry all that! And besides we‘ll only be there for a few days!”
“But Twilight, what about all your study materials?” He asked. "You can't afford to fall behind on those... remember last time?"
Twilight shuddered at the thought of it... Last time she had gotten behind she was denied seeing her parents for several months, and instead of getting to spend time with her family she spent it with books. Come to think of it thought Twilight That was right around when I met Scops
“I believe I have a solution!” Scops chimed in, completely bursting Twilight's concentration. “What if you were to stay in the library? That way you don’t have to pack so many books!”
“Uhh, that’s a great idea Scops but, there’s a few problems with that idea. First of all, you can‘t stay in a library that doesn't belong to you, unless you had permission from either the owner or the princess. And secondly, What if they don't have my books?” replied Twilight.
“ Don't worry Twi. I've been there, they have your books. And I wouldn't worry about the permission, I own the deed to the place so thankfully it won't take too long to get that."
“Wait, what?" Twilight asked in shock. "I knew you used to live in Ponyville, but you used to live in the library?”
“Actually, and you’re never gonna believe this, but I’ve never lived in it… I just kinda won it… in a card game.”
“How would … what would you… Who would bet a library in a card game?” Twilight asked incredulously, as if implying that this was the first time she’d ever heard of such a thing.
“Well, let’s just say that a certain purplish earth pony, who enjoys the occasional drink, would bet any property she owns when the stakes are high enough. It's a great story. I got time if you want to hear it, I don‘t really have to be anywhere until Wednesday.” Scops stated, with the same familiar smile he had whenever somepony took an interest in one of his stories
“Scops, as much as I enjoy your stories and would love to hear how you conned a drunken pony out of a house, we really have to get out of here, otherwise we’ll miss the next chariot out of here.” Spike said as he begun to push the colt out of the library.
“Aw, don’t even worry about it. I’ll see you guys in Ponyville okay?” Scops replied, taking his leave of the humble abode which he’d been standing in for what seemed like an eternity.
“Finally!” Spike said, closing the door as soon as the talkative green stallion was outside. “That guy gets on my nerves.” he began to turn around but then he noticed a familiar face behind him.
“It’s okay Spike! I get on my nerves too…” Scops said to the young dragon
“How… What.. Why.. Huh?”
“I forgot my book. You know, the one that I came to get… so I could read something on the way to Ponyville? Don't tell me you forgot." Spike simply stared, soundly shocked by the sneakiness of the strange stallion. Scops picked up the book from the ground where he had left it, placed it in his bag, and then started to head toward the door. “Welp, this time I’m gone for good! See ya!” Scops said, leaving the library. He walked out onto the street and proceeded to look for a chariot.
“Twilight… You need to make different friends…” Spike said to Twilight, shaking his head at what just transpired.
“Well Spike, if you want me to make friends so badly why don‘t you just add it to the list?” Twilight stated sarcastically
“Good idea! I’ll put it right above oversee the Celebration’s preparation!” He exclaimed excitedly, scrawling the idea on a piece of parchment he had just managed to pull from another of the numerous ‘pockets’ that he had.
“Spike? Are you actually writing that down?”
“What? You said put on the list.”
Twilight only sighed as she finished her packing. Whilst she was preoccupied with that task, Spike continued to close down the library. With the final preparations made, she and her young assistant left their Canterlot home and headed toward the nearest chariot.