//------------------------------// // 7. Alicorn and Alibi // Story: The Substitute Librarian // by Georg //------------------------------// The Substitute Librarian Alicorn and Alibi - Part One His plan was flawless. According to Emerald’s father, all of the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony were going to be at the Grand Galloping Gala. So was the latest Future Mrs. Emerald City, escorted to the event by Emerald’s mother for a coincidental meeting with him. Therefore, Emerald needed to be somewhere else this evening. Somewhere he could go on short notice, where he could not be dragged into another matrimonial scheme. Somewhere he had to be, where even Baron Chrysanthemum could not object. Somewhere Twilight Sparkle would not be able to find him. Therefore, the Ponyville Golden Oak Library, Open Sunrise to Sunset Daily. All Emerald needed to do was leave a note for his parents and his fraternity brothers, catch the train, and spend all evening in Ponyville, lounging at their only hotel while working on some of his inevitable homework. It was a two-fer. In Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle would be at the Gala. His parents would also attend the Gala, show Lady Whatshername around, and return seething to their home. If they checked at the frat house to see where their son was hiding, they would find an Emerald-shaped hole and a flawless alibi. His parents would not dare interfere with Princess Celestia’s plans, even if the princess in question was unaware of his scheme. Um… Plan, that is. The only uncertainty in his plan was timing. If the Bearers were taking the train to Canterlot, they would be on the platform as he arrived. Admittedly, from the pictures in the newspapers, they were a fine group of mares, but he did not want to meet them under any circumstances. Despite Twilight Sparkle’s previous sworn complaints, he was not an epic danger to Equestria. He did not need to be force-fed rainbows, or have his library card impounded, or be imprisoned in a prison in a swamp that was transported to another country to be imprisoned, or whatever the chain of incarceration she had sketched out in her last letter to the Canterlot police. Once the train wheezed to a halt at the Ponyville station, he peered out the window. Good. No prospective brides. No famous Equestrian heroes. No relatives. No police. Still, caution was the watchword. He trotted out into the sun-dappled afternoon streets of the small town, horribly overdressed but maintaining his active and cheerful demeanor. After all, if you looked like you knew what you were doing and belonged there, you could go just about anywhere. And the first place he went was the local boutique. The employment packet from a few weeks ago said the Element of Generosity worked there, and since there was a ‘Closed’ sign in the window… Looking good. Better check one more place, just to be sure. The last time Emerald had been to Ponyville, he had been so tempted to stop by the Sugarcube Corner and get something sweet to eat. This time, there was no time pressure, so he slipped in the door with the cheerful ‘ding’ of the bell and got in line. After one breath filled with calorie-laden atmosphere, he immediately regretted not stopping here on his previous visit. Even though it was nearing the end of the day and the bakery was getting ready to close, they still had an astonishing collection of goods. He was still making up his mind when the line moved forward and he found himself facing a cheerful chubby mare with a tired smile. “Oh, you must be Mister Emerald,” she said before he could even open his mouth. “Just a moment.” In a blur of light blue fur, she was gone, only to return with a small box tied up with twine. She put it down on the counter carefully and nosed it in his direction. “I didn’t order anything yet,” he protested. “Although I’d like that last brioche, two of the cinnamon twists, and go ahead and bag everything left on the bottom tray. They look so good I can’t decide.” The requested pastries vanished into a paper sack, which cost far less than Emerald had expected due to the ‘End Of Day Half-Off Sale’ and the lack of the Canterlot ‘Everything-Has-To-Be-Brought-Up-The-Mountain’ surcharge. “Thank you very much, Mister Emerald,” said the clerk as she swept up the bits. “Now, don’t open that in here. Pinkie Pie was very upset at not being able to throw you a party last time.” “Pinkie Pie knew I was…” Emerald considered the obvious holes in the information packet he had received on his last visit, weighed it against the poke in the flank he had just received from the next pony in line, and decided it was not important. “Is Pinkie Pie here, ma’am?” “Sweet heavens, no. She went up to Canterlot with all of her friends about an hour ago.” A second and more solid poke in the flank made Emerald move to the bakery door, calling out “Thank you, ma’am” over his shoulder. Once he was safely outside, he had time to think. About an hour ago, he was boarding the train in Canterlot, and yet he was supposed to believe the Bearer of the Element of Laughter managed to discover his destination, create a gift— He eyed the box. It seemed innocuous enough to ignore for now. He had things to do. ☑ — Escape from Canterlot ☑ — Verify that the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony are not in Ponyville ☐ — Establish alibi at the library ☐ — Spend the evening eating donuts and studying at the local hotel ☐ — Return to Canterlot in time for morning classes Checking to make sure his bow tie was still snug, Emerald trotted in the direction of the library with dinner and the odd gift resting on the middle of his back. It was a little unnerving. The evening Sun and a light breeze cast the waving oak leaves into dark shadows moving in a constant pattern that made it seem alive. Or that may have just been his mind playing tricks. “No pollination today, you naughty shrub,” he murmured under his breath as he slowed to a walk. “Just a quick stop and a hotel room for the night.” The ‘Closed’ sign was up in the library’s front window, but he knocked on the door anyway, with just the slightest concern that perhaps Twilight Sparkle had not been able to make the trip to the Grand Galloping Gala. In that case, he would simply excuse himself to the young mare with a polite lie and come up with a different tale to spin to his parents tomorrow. Thankfully, there was no response, and alibi established, Emerald turned with the intention of heading straight for the hotel. Unfortunately, there was an older mare standing on the path in front of him. “Good afternoon,” she declared, giving him the committed smile of an expert con artist or a salespony. “Are you needing into the library, sir?” Giving her a shrug and moving to one side, Emerald kept his face friendly. “Well, I was going to pick up a book for the evening, but it looks like your librarian is out of town.” “Oh!” The mare’s face gained a look of sly joy, much like somepony who had just found a ten bit coin on the sidewalk. “Mister Emerald! Why, I almost didn’t recognize you in such a fine suit. I’m Mayor Mare, which you should have known if you had dropped by the Town Hall on your previous visit like your instructions had specified.” Oh, no. She’s a politician. It’s worse than I thought. “I really didn’t have time. I was so busy with the library work and teaching some of the town’s young unicorns,” said Emerald, trying to keep as close to the truth as possible. “So I heard,” said the mayor with a growing smile. Emerald did not like that expression. It was far too shark-like. “I understand you taught Firelock how to make a flame,” she started, showing a few teeth in her predatory smile. “With the proper precautions,” he added quickly. “It is far better for her to learn in a controlled environment than on her own.” “And you taught the rest of your students how to make the most interesting noise,” she continued. Better to go on the offensive than defense. “They’re practicing? Oh, how wonderful!” he gushed. “You would not believe how many young unicorns neglect their early developmental period when they should be getting control over their magic. I know personally how it can cripple their abilities for years afterward. Some of them have uncontrollable destructive flares, or worse, wind up with first-level corona instabilities and live their life without being able to even lift a spoon. Why, my own unicorn parents still roll their eyes when I eat my cereal right out of the bowl without proper table utensils, which of course, I can’t use the same way as them. I guess teaching the precious children of your town is as close to using unicorn magic as I’m going to get.” “Oh, I never thought of it that way,” said the mayor, giving Emerald’s hat a short glance. “I suppose as much as we dread what our young students do with their developing talents, the alternative would be far worse. Still,” she cautioned, “Firelock.” “I’ll drop a note with some suggestions for the next visit by your Unicorn Magic Youth Educational Specialist,” said Emerald while trying to figure out how to do just that. Certainly, somebody at the college would be able to pass along a message to her tutor. And some burn cream for the inevitable hiccups during lessons. The mayor was not taking his hint about the conversation being over, and gave him a quick top-to-bottom look, lingering on his expensive suit. “So, have you returned to pay our Twilight Sparkle a visit?” “No.” It was as solid and definite answer as he could make to the mayor without stomping one glossy hoof-boot against the ground. “My visits here are strictly on a professional basis. While I was on the way to the Gala, one of my fraternity brothers mistakenly told me that the library was needing a sitter this evening, so I hurried right here.” So I told Bunkie instead of him telling me. Close enough for an alibi. Emerald rattled the door, feeling the faint tingle of the locking enchantments under his insulating dark hoof-boot. “Regrettably, I seem to be too late. I might as well head over to the hotel for the evening and work on my homework before heading back on the morning train.” “Nonsense,” scoffed the mayor, producing a spell key. “As a matter of fact, this evening is the annual Harvest Night Library Sleepover for young foals among the community. We have story-telling and board games, which incidentally allows the parents a few hours of quiet time after a long day in the fields. Then they all curl up in their sleeping bags until morning when the parents pick them up.” “Uh-huh.” Emerald considered his words. “Do any of them actually sleep?” It was the mayor’s turn to shrug. “It’s always been such a difficult time, what with the previous librarian making us hold the event in the Town Hall. We have two volunteers, but to be honest, I wasn’t quite sure how it would go tonight without somepony else providing a quelling influence on the children’s natural energy. It’s so nice that you came down from Canterlot to help out.” The mayor paused. “M’lord.” * * * “Next time, I’m going to be born into a small woodcutter’s family,” mused Emerald as he dropped his saddlebags on the library desk and began kicking off his hoof-boots. “A little proper tugging at the forelock, some bowing and scraping, nothing but porridge every meal… Well, maybe it’s not that bad.” “Twilight Sparkle wrote up a lesson plan for this evening,” said the grey-maned mayor, hoofing over a thick scroll of parchment. “As long as you keep the students out of her room and nothing burns down by tomorrow morning, we can all call this a success.” “Right.” Emerald eyed the mayor, who had begun moving toward the front door. “We?” “There is some long-delayed paperwork waiting for me back at the office,” explained the mayor, who continued to crab slightly sideways in her escape attempt. “Twilight Sparkle made some requests for library procedure changes after her last Bearer mission. This seems to be a good time to catch up on them, since I’ve found a volunteer to preside over the story reading tonight. Several of the children will be bringing older siblings or relatives, so you don’t have to worry about assistants. Just keep them out of the books and don’t make a mess.” “Don’t make a mess,” he murmured to himself after the mayor left. Dropping into the oak chair behind the massive desk, Emerald opened up the stack of instructions, and the inevitable checklist accompanying it. ☑ — Read checklist ☑ — Read instructions ☑ — Take optional test on Page 47 regarding same ☑ — Make sure Pinkie Pie’s snacks are unpacked ☑ — Greet young ponies when they arrive ☑ — Take attendance “Emerald!” By all means, the charge of three young foals should not have knocked him onto the floor, but since they were unicorns, and were therefore leading their charge horn-first, he decided on indignity instead of injury. Then again, if he had been thinking, a minor injury would have gotten him out of this task. No, it was too much fun listening to the children babble about what had gone on since his last visit. There was, of course, the inevitable backsliding in their magical homework among the unicorn students, although Snails had progressed to being able to pick up the pasteboard boxes of the boardgames, and Snips was at least trying to sort the pieces when everything spilled. Sweetie Belle, however, had regressed back to a flickering first stage corona with occasional sparks, although she somehow managed to incinerate a cookie and a glass of juice while getting snacks, which was a good sign. As more students arrived and Emerald found himself being introduced to the young and the old, the names started to blur together. It was far better than working on the homework in his saddlebags, which Emerald had deposited in the librarian’s chair, along with his formal suit and pinching hoof-boots. He kept the hat. Otherwise, he’d be naked. To be honest, Emerald had played all of the worn board games before as a foal and grown rather tired of them. His older siblings had never been comfortable with taking him out into the dangerous world to play risky games such as hoofball or Scuttle. “Your brother is too fragile,” was the constant refrain from both Mother and Father. At least in school, he had been able to join the track team, even if he was destined to come in at last place during every meet. And the chess club, of course, in which he held a similar record more by intent than disability. None of the children had any such reluctance, and neither did Emerald. He could have called it his second childhood if he had not been rather shorted on his first one. Between brief conversations with the younger ponies, they trounced him at Battleclouds, clobbered him at Food Pyramid, out-tossed him at the beanbag toss, and out-tailed him when pinning the tail on the paper pony. Things by that point had begun to wind down, so after declaring that he was exhausted and needed to sit down for a time, Emerald took a break with some snacks, a paper cup of juice, and a spot next to Derpy’s seat. “I’m glad I only get to do this occasionally,” he admitted to the quiet pegasus. The temporary lull in the activity gave him the opportunity to ask a question that had been bothering him over the last two trips, although he wanted to angle into it just in case it was a sensitive topic. “I’ll bet you’re glad to have Sparkler over there to deal with Dinky, Miss Derpy. Or is it Doo? I’ve heard it both ways tonight.” Derpy looked at him… well, one eye looked at him, which was about as good as he was going to get. “You can just call me Derpy,” she said flatly. “Everypony does.” “As you wish, m’lady.” Emerald touched one hoof to his hat. “I understand that group story reading is next, and—” he nudged a short sheaf of paper on the nearby librarian desk “—due to the youth, inexperience, and fragility of the children, the present librarian has a list of topics we’re not supposed to cover.” “Any story with words in it?” asked Derpy, which struck him as unreasonably humorous. “Yes,” he managed through a stifled chuckle. “Although I’ve got an idea. If you could talk to Sparkler for me…” * * * “Everypony over here, please. Bring your sleeping bags.” Emerald pushed on the librarian desk to get some more space on the main floor, but was unable to make any progress until several of the children contributed their assistance. “Thank you, Truffle. And…” “Scootaloo, sir.” The diminutive pegasus hooved her mane back into shape and looked up with pale violet eyes, although her face was covered in crumbs. “This is my first Harvest Night Library Sleepover,” she added proudly. “Please don’t call me sir, just Emerald. Now, everybody get comfortable and I’ll tell tonight’s story just as soon as I get our storytelling light.” It was a short walk back to the kitchen pantry where Emerald found the ancient candle lantern stored exactly where he had found it the first time. It took some effort to extract it due to several more tins of generic wake-up juice concentrate stacked in front of it, and he managed to get the water reservoir refilled without making too much of a mess. “Just need to figure out what story to tell them,” he muttered between his teeth while striking the match. “It’s a lot easier to fake an idea for a story than an actual—” In the flare of matchlight pushing back the kitchen’s darkness, little glints of microscopic crystals sparkled in the oak walls, the floors, and everywhere the raw tree was exposed, giving him the brief sensation of floating aimlessly in a star-strewn sky. The brilliant reflection of the spotty mirror over the sink drew his attention away from the glittering spectacle and to the shadowed spectre looking back through the silvered glass, much like some sort of ghostly librarian looking disapprovingly at his pitiful attempts to entertain the town’s youth. It also gave him an idea, once he got his breath back. Once he had returned to his previous seat out in the library main floor and turned off the overhead lighting devices, the idea had bloomed into a full-fledged terror. His brothers would have approved. His younger sister would have screamed. His older sister would have clomped him over the head with something. “It’s awfully dark,” complained one of the students out in the shadows. “It’s supposed to be dark,” countered Emerald as he placed the candle lantern on the massive oak desk. “And quiet. You see, this is a library after closing time. We don’t want to disturb the librarian spirit who is cursed to haunt this place until the end of time.” “Haunt?” sounded one of the small voices. “Librarian?” sounded another, more afraid than the first. Several flickering unicorn horns lit up, and the small ponies gathered closer together. The faint chill of a distant breeze encouraged their herding behavior, and Emerald pretended not to notice Derpy on top of a nearby bookshelf, using her wings and pegasus magic to shift the temperature of their storytelling area until it began to resemble the upcoming winter. If they were chilly and huddling together for warmth, they would be that much easier to deal with, after all. “Haven’t you ever wondered just how your town acquired a magical library oak tree?” he started, low and nearly under his breath. Faint flickers of ghostly light reflected from all of the surroundings with much the same microscopic crystalline glitters in the raw oak, giving a fairy tale atmosphere to the darkened room, even without Sparkler adding her own faint blue glow of light to the surroundings in order to make the shadows dance. “It all started many, many years ago, in a land far from here, where an elderly librarian managed her collection of books in a ramshackle stone building. It leaked when it rained, let wind in through the cracks when it stormed, and was a generally miserable place for her to live.” “Why did she stay?” asked Dinky. “Because she loved her books,” continued Emerald. “Each and every one of them was like a child to her, even though she had no children of her own. And that was probably a good thing, because for a pony who loved books, she despised pony children.” He lowered his voice and leaned forward, putting every bit of contempt he could into each word. “You see, children lose books. They fold the corners back on pages. They put them face-down on the floor and break their spines. They spill sticky things on the covers, and tear pages when they squabble with other ponies. And yet, in order for her to have a place to live with her beloved books, she had to lend them out,” he added, curling his lips back from his teeth and hissing. “She hated that more than anything, and glared at everypony she met.” “She sounds like Twilight Sparkle,” grumbled Firelock, who had not even lit up her horn, most probably due to the number of fire alarm and extinguishing spells scattered around the bookshelves. “Oh, no! Twilight Sparkle has friends.” Emerald waved one hoof in a broad arc around the dark book-filled room. His eyes were adjusting to the dark, which boded well for the anticipated ending of his story when the time was right. “This librarian had nopony at all. As long as she was surrounded by her books, she was… Well, not happy. Let’s just say she was less miserable than she could have been. During Day, she would glare at the ponies who dared to slink into her library and borrow her beloved books, while at Night, she crept around the building in the dark, without even a candle to light her way. You see, she was very old, and knew there would come a time soon when she would die and go beyond the Great Plain. She would not be able to bring her books, and she could not bear to see them destroyed. That is why she could not bear to see any candles. She hated fire of any sort!” “The monster,” whispered Firelock. “That was only the start of her monstrous ways,” continued Emerald. “You see, one night when she was muttering and complaining around the library, she found a strange book on the shelves, where she was certain there had not been one before. The ancient book was dusty and cracked, with glowing silver runes on the cover and a thick band made of leather strapping it closed.” “Don’t open it,” whispered Snips with his eyes closed. “Don’t open it, don’t open it…” “And she opened it!” The little ponies all gasped. “It did not seem to be one of hers, but it was in her house, so she read it!” The little ponies all gasped again. “Then something truly terrible happened. Something so awful that it had never happened before, and most probably would never happen again.” Emerald paused for dramatic effect. “She… smiled.” Several of the little ponies screamed, but hushed up quickly when their friends shushed them. “It was a terrible, cruel, evil smile,” continued Emerald. “Because you see, there was a spell in the book. Something so vile that I don’t dare tell you, because your young minds would break under the strain! The librarian did not care how evil it was, just that it could solve her dilemma and she could be with her books forever!” “What’s a dill emma?” asked Snails. “Shh,” cautioned Snips with his eyes still closed. “I’ll tell you later.” “So that evening, while the whole town was sleeping, the librarian made her preparations. She drew runes on the creaky floorboards, arranged all the library cards into a mystic circle, and drew upon her power to summon…” Emerald paused, and looked around the circle of entranced faces, feeling marginally smug about seeing Sparkler just as entranced as her little sister. “First, I must tell you about alicorns from long, long ago,” he said in a conspiratorial tone, but continued before any of his audience could break their immersion. “Back long before Celestia, far in ancient history when there was an alicorn for everything, every blade of grass, every tree, every rock. Thousands upon thousands of them, with magic beyond measure, filled the world with light and wonder. Nopony knows what happened to them, but they all passed into the Great Beyond many years ago, leaving only their spirits behind to roam the world. One of these alicorns was the spirit who lives in every library across the entire world. “She was a majestic creature, beautiful beyond words and graceful, although not large because she was a very practical creature, and to be large would have made it difficult to fit between the bookshelves, of course. Since her passing from the material world many years before, she had transformed into a being of pure ideas, thoughts, and dreams. Of storms and summers, of patrons walking quietly among shelf-lined walls and the loud cries of the young. Of books, lined and straight, filled with the knowledge of ponies long dead and awaiting a chance to live again in the hooves of an interested reader. Of rain and sunshine and wind, the droning of bees outside her windows, and the touch of the snow upon her roof. She was the unseen queen of all she surveyed, ruler and guiding hoof, a refuge for weary souls battered by the world and a beacon of learning for the hungry masses.” After sufficient time, one of the students asked, “The librarian summoned an alicorn?” “Not just an alicorn,” whispered Emerald. “The Alicorn of Knowledge, she who knows everything, and what she does not know, she can find, because every book in the world falls under her domain. Knowledge is its own power, and the librarian let out a joyful cackle at the sight of such a mighty creature trapped within her runes and sigils. “Alicorn,” she commanded, “I have two tasks for you.” Despite its overwhelming might, the alicorn remained quiet and did not attempt to escape its bonds. “Speak,” it said in the calmest voice. “I wish to have a library suitable for my books,” said the librarian with a sneer. “One that does not leak when it rains, and remains comfortable for me in the worst weather. It must grow as I add more books, and never be destroyed. And over that library, I shall reign forever as an alicorn just like yourself. Immortal, powerful, and respected, making all who come near cower in fear, and never touch the books in my care.” The mighty alicorn nodded, then lifted her head and looked the librarian in the eyes. “Are you certain?” it asked. “Of course, I’m certain,” snapped the librarian. “Do as I command!” “Bound by your spell, I can do no other,” said the alicorn. She lifted her horn, and golden light filled the ramshackle library until it was impossible to see. An oak tree which was growing along one outside wall burst into furious growth, whipping leaves and branches around as it sprang into the air and expanded, wrapping the library in its wooden embrace. In moments, it had completely surrounded the old library, and when everything stopped moving, all of the librarian’s prized books were secure on their new shelves. Well, the librarian was pleased, to say the least. The mighty oak tree was at least twice as large as her previous library, and the books had enough space between them for a great expansion of her collection. However, her aged limbs and wrinkled face had not changed a bit. “Alicorn!” she snapped. “Why have you not completed the second of my tasks! Give me your power so I can live forever, like yourself!” “Your second task is far more difficult,” said the alicorn. “The risks are great. Life cannot be given without life taken in return.” “Take the lives of those wretched children,” spat the librarian as she gestured to the library cards scattered across the floor. “They are worthless creatures, who live only to damage my beloved books.” “Why would I do that?” The glowing alicorn stepped forward, through the scattered runes and sigils which no longer held their previous structure, and therefore no longer blocked the creature’s power. “Children are the precious gift given to the future, filled with boundless potential. They are the ones most in need of my wisdom, learning from my pages, becoming more than the generation before. They come to me, and I open my heart gladly so they can drink deeply of wisdom and knowledge.” The alicorn stopped, and lowered her horn. “Nevertheless, I shall give you what you demanded.” To the librarian’s horror, flames began to erupt from her coat, and in moments, she was consumed in a cold fire that devoured her entirely. Still, the ancient alicorn continued to speak while the librarian burned. “In your foolishness, you shall attain wisdom. You shall become as I am, a spirit of libraries all over the world. Your home will be wherever books are kept for the use of many. You will see your beloved books placed in the care of others, powerless to interfere as they read them and enjoy. Perhaps, after centuries of this ghostly afterlife, you will learn the lessons I have attempted to teach. This is the gift which you demanded, and that is what you will receive. Forever.” * * * Emerald placed the glowing candle lantern down in the center of their tight group, with each of the little ponies staring at the flame with wide eyes. “Nopony ever saw the librarian again. In the morning,” he continued, “there was an immense oak tree in the center of the town where the ramshackle library once stood. The ponies of the town marveled at their new library, and did not miss the troublesome old mare one bit. “Time went on, and the town needed somepony to watch over the books, so they hired a pleasant mare who appreciated the children of the town, and always made sure every pony found the books they enjoyed the most. It could have been a satisfying end to their story, but there was more.” By this time, the smaller unicorns had become so transfixed that none of them were keeping their horns lit, not even Sparkler, which he took as a good sign. He had been a little worried about the fire portion disturbing his audience, but Firelock’s presence must have made most of the young students fairly immune to mere literary fire, so he continued. “In the spring, the town’s new library erupted in—” “Fire?” asked Firelock eagerly and expectedly. “—blossom,” continued Emerald with a cautionary look at the young firebug. “Beautiful white flowers like flames covered every branch, and by that fall, hundreds of acorns were gathered by the townsponies. They were so excited by the gift of nature that they sent those acorns to every single city in Equestria. Some of them did not grow, of course, while most never got larger than saplings. Only a special few grew into great libraries like this one, centers of knowledge for ponies of all ages. But…” He lowered his voice and bent closer to the candle’s flame. “The librarian’s curse followed the trees. It is said that on dark nights, when you light a candle in a closed library and listen very closely, you can still hear her screaming in the fire that turned her into a spirit.” Every little pony perked up their ears and listened with wide eyes, even Snips. It probably did not help that Emerald had his lips just barely parted, and was releasing his breath very slowly between his teeth in a nearly inaudible hiss. “You see,” continued Emerald in a low whisper that made the little ponies huddle closer, “there was a flaw in the librarian’s prison. She was only powerless to affect the living who enjoyed her beloved books. Wherever there are libraries, there are mischievous little ponies who abuse the books, tear the pages, stain the covers, and lose them. None of you are like that, are you?” All of the young ponies including Sparkler dutifully shook their heads. “Good,” said Emerald with a sigh. “Because naughty little ponies have been known to vanish at night around this kind of library. Nopony ever sees them again, but in the morning, the tree always looks a little bigger, and has more space for books.” “Twilight might like that,” said Firelock hesitantly. “I’m sure she prefers you all just the way you are now, since you’re good little ponies,” said Emerald. “Besides, there are always two ways to tell if the librarian is looking at you, ready to pounce. First, is to look into a candle flame like this one.” All of the young ponies stopped their fidgeting and gave the flickering candle their full and undivided attention while Emerald continued. “Whenever she uses a candle flame to spy on naughty little colts and fillies, it flickers because she breathes on it… like this one is doing. Hm…” Emerald pulled the candle lantern closer and got a good grip on it, because the next part had a good chance of getting it knocked over, and he did not want to clean up the mess. “Of course, the second way of telling if she’s going to pounce is if you see her ghostly figure—” he whirled and pointed at the top of the library stairwell “—like that!” The screaming started immediately, and little ponies began running everywhere.