//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Librarian, And The Next Generation Of Friendship! // by The_Whovian16 //------------------------------// Meanwhile: Back at the School of Friendship... “You... Lost them.” Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, and newest leader of the Equestrian nation, asked her former student- now headmare of her personal school. “Politely” one might add. She was currently sitting in Starlight’s Office, around noon the day after Starlight’s announcement had been made. No one had noticed it the evening, or even into the next morning. But by lunchtime, when the students were all in the cafeteria eating lunch, Trixie had done a headcount. When six names came up missing, she brought it up to Starlight, who immediately summoned the Princess- because of course it had to be those six. Starlight nodded her head, sighing slowly. She was very quickly getting tired of being yelled at, especially since this was only her second day on the job technically speaking. So to hear Twilight’s calm reaction was a much needed change of pace. “Yes. We cannot find them.” She stated again, this time forcing herself to be calm so as not to worry her teacher. “That is why I contacted you immediately- and not their Guardians. Informing you now was better than having them inform you later, because this will undoubtedly leak its way into a number of international and foriegn affairs.” “Trixie thinks that was one of your better calls today. She is also surprised that it only took a day for it to happen. Trixie was expecting at least a week to go by before something went wrong.” Trixie muttered, sitting in on this meeting with Twilight, Starlight, and Sunburst beside her. She quietly munched away on her carrot sticks she bought from the cafeteria. “Trixie was also impressed with their disappearing skills. They have certainly given Trixie a run for her bits.” “W-what Trixie means is; we’ve been looking.” Sunburst quickly entered the conversation, staying with Trixie for the moment, and staying out of the direct radius of Twilight’s horn. “They walked out in the middle of the announcements yesterday, when no one was looking. Starlight, Trixie and I were all swamped with angry parents and upset students. It was hours before their own guardian’s noticed they were gone, but even they don’t know to the extent. We’ve done magical scans in their dorms, their classrooms, at the Clubhouse, and the Castle of the Two Sisters. We detected some magic at the clubhouse, but nothing conclusive has come up.” “Conclusive?” Twilight asked him curtly, looking to Starlight. “You’ve found nothing “conclusive?” Or nothing at all?” Starlight rubbed the back of her head as she spoke up. “Well... That’s the second reason I called you.” She emphasized as she tried to keep Twilight focused. “There was a power surge at the Clubhouse around 7PM last night From what we scanned, the magic was... eerily similar to the Tree of Harmony’s magical aura. Only, we couldn’t track it to where it went- it cut out the moment it left the clubhouse. Some kind of masking, or nullification spell is stopping us from tracing the endpoint of the transportation.” She admitted, sighing as she got up. “These students have gone missing before though. These exact six... The last time they went missing, they all ended up running away together. And honestly, when you consider their motivations, it makes sense that they would again when threatened with being broken up.” Twilight watched Starlight, getting up with her. “Their Motivations? You’re convinced they really tried to run away and don't plan to come back?” “Well- let’s think about it.” Starlight said, sitting down beside one of the large windows in the office. “One of them is from a naturally curious species, raised and repressed into a dictatorship, whom were raised to gather information instinctually from a young age. Her species is now experiencing a new age of literal ‘Discovery’ and we were about to send her back into a hole in the ground? Another is a literal fish out of water, obsessed with the fantasy of ‘Life on the Surface’ and all the stuff that we consider ‘normal’ and ‘everyday’ seeming bizarre and strange. A third is an orphan, grabbed off the streets with nothing to go back too if we send them back to their kingdom, and a fourth gets singled out and distanced back in her home country for even walking on the same dirt as us. Only one of those six children is an actual “Ambassador” and that’s because she was the most open minded of the most close-minded and stubborn species on the planet. The last one literally lives here and is devoted to them because they’re the first real friends he’s ever had, so is likely to agree with the group majority- whom we’ve just established, have little to no reason to go “Home” when all of this is said and done.” Starlight explained, shaking her head as she rubbed her temples, hanging her neck in defeat before she put her face on the glass. “I honestly should have seen this coming!” Twilight stared at Starlight for a moment in disbelief, blinking repeatedly before looking back to Sunburst and Trixie. Sunburst shrugged at her slowly, but thankfully, Trixie explained. “She did use to counsel these children. These six were the ones that ate up nearly every hour of her time while she was working here.” She reminded Twilight. “She put in more time with these particular six students than any of the other students combined. I should know- they ate into our time together as well.” Twilight blushed slightly instead and nodded in remembrance. “Oh. Right... Well, I suppose when you put it like that it does make sense.” Twilight muttered, looking back to Starlight. “Maybe, they did run away. But, our first priority shouldn’t be trying to figure out how to help them stay together- it should be trying to get them back before they spark an international incident. We can sit down and talk with them and their guardians after we bring them home, but we have to actually do that first.” She said, walking over to her own student and sitting with her. “I know, I know.” Starlight groaned softly as she picked up her head and stared out over the lovely day. “But I just can’t help but feel like I’m failing these kids as their Headmare. I know these Kids personally, I helped define right and wrong for some of them because they didn’t know any better.” She admitted, looking back to Twilight. “For them to go to this extreme I just... -sigh- I feel like I’m letting them down by closing the school.” “You aren’t.” Twilight said, chuckling sweetly as she understood Starlight’s pain. “Believe me, you aren’t. You care about them more as children than some ponies in this nation do- remember the reason we got shut down in the first place?~ Because someponies couldn’t and didn’t care about those kids.” She shook her shoulder lightly instead and gave her a smile. “When we bring them back, I promise you we can work something out. I’ll make something work.” Starlight looked up to her teacher again, giving a small smile. Somehow, again. Twilight just made sense when she couldn’t, and made everything just a little bit better. With a small sigh, Starlight nodded to her, wiping her eyes as they were feeling a little bleary. “Alright... Let’s go and find them then.” Trixie snorted and raised a hoof in the air. “And HOW exactly do you plan on doing that? Trixie saw Sunburst and Starlight try and crack the tracking nullification spells- they were very high level. Trixie’s not even sure what type of magic it was, it didn’t look like regular Unicorn Magic.” “Trixie is kinda right.” Sunburst admitted. “I’ve seen a number of blocking and nullification spells, and this one had the most powerful and complex casting spell matrix I’ve ever seen, let alone tried to unravel. The Signature wasn’t even unicorn magic, which is what half convinces me it was cast by something ancient or primordial all together.” “Well, we have to try something.” Twilight said. “It’s not exactly like the six of them are going to come falling out of the sky at any moment.” Just then, high above the School of Friendship, a bright glowing light formed above the clouds, creating a small circle that began to glow wider and wider. It then blasted through the clouds and came pouring down from the sky like a pressurized rainbow beam, slamming into the roof on the far left side of the school. The ground beneath their feet shook as rainbow lights were cast into the headmare’s office window, creating a beautiful array of dancing colors across their faces and the walls contained within. When they all turned to look out the window- they would see rainbow magic currently dissipating as it slammed into the roof of the school, in the bottom far left corner. Noting the scorch marks on the roof, it appeared to be smoking with magic having just roasted it’s exterior. Starlight and Twilight both went wide eyed before turning to look at eachother, Trixie and Sunburst both turning to look at Twilight as well. “... Quick!” Trixie jumped up in Twilight’s face. “Now say you don’t expect hunky stallions to start falling out of the sky and madly in love with a Magician!” “Trixie!” Starlight huffed at her. “Oh don’t Trixie me! Not everyone has a cute nerdy coltfriend in reserve in some distant empire!” Trixie stated, making Starlight’s cheeks grow crimson red, as she tried to gather her words to retort. Thankfully, Sunburst wasn’t paying attention. “Isn’t that directly above the library?” He asked out loud, looking back to Twilight. “What!?!!?” Twilight got up to look out the window. “Nooo! Not again!” She called out, before teleporting across the campus, grabbing the other 3 in tow. -----&----- The door to the school’s library flew open not a moment later, lead by Twilight and the school staff. They stormed in past the library’s front desk, and looked out towards the back of the library. However, to their shock... everything was... alright. I mean, there were crystals shattered all over the ground. But nothing seemed overly damaged. The crystal pile slowly clattered and began to slip off to the side- before a head poked it’s way out of the center. Bright teal skin, transparent pink membrane, and large bug eyes looked around the room at first, seeming dazed. Quickly a yak popped out beside her- then a dragon. “... Well that was interesting.” Ocellus muttered, looking over to her friends. “Yak want to sing tooth song again!” Yona declared, throwing up her arms with a large grin before she looked over to. “Aw heck no!” Smolder shouted, before pushing the yak back under the pile of crystals. She looked over to Ocellus, before they both started laughing, and getting up, Yona joining them a moment later as well. (The crystals weren’t very sharp thankfully.) “Smolder? Ocellus? Yona?” Starlight called out, stepping out in front of Twilight and rushing over to them. “You’re alright! I mean- are you alright?” She asked quickly, before her horn ignited as she pulled the three students free and lifted them over to one of the library tables. “Where are the others?” “Uh, I dunno.” Smolder muttered, looking back to the crystals. “They were right behind us.” “We transported back together.” Ocellus admitted, looking over to Yona who shrugged as she shook some crystals out of her hair. “Maybe they got-” The hatch in the far back corner of the room flipped open from under the rug, as a small claw escaped. “Over here!” Gallus called out, stepping out before turning around to pull Sandbar, and then Silverstream out. “We got T.P.’d under the library.” He muttered, before sighing as he brushed off the dirt and dust. “That was not a smooth ride home.” Sandbar muttered, holding his stomach for a moment before turning and laughing with Gallus softly. Silverstream giggled and stretched out her wings. “But it was really fun though! OH MY GOSH- Headmare Starlight, you would not BELIEVE the Adventure we’ve been on!” She admitted, before gasping softly. “Ooohh! Headmare Twilight! You’re back!” Five other sets of eyes immediately turned and looked to the old Headmare/Princess and giving stunned and surprised looks. Twilight however, just giggled softly and shook her head. “Hello Silverstream~ Mind filling us faculty in on what just happened while you were gone on this ‘adventure’? ... And why my library is covered in crystals right now?” Trixie smirked and rolled her eyes. “Maybe they had a run in with King Sombra...” Sunburst gave her a short jab however and snorted as he found that joke to be in poor taste. “Ohmygosh- Okay! SO!” Silver immediately pulled over a chair and sat down within it, hands on the table. “We were all in the clubhouse right! Super Angry that we were gonna get split up. Next thing we know, we got teleported halfway across the world into some cavern place! With a bunch of cultists, and this really mean griffon guy!” Ocellus gasped and nodded. “Oh yeah! He had recreated Cozy Glow’s spell- and modified it! He trapped us in this Crystal Pyramid suspended off of the ground and-” “He challenged friendship!” Yona called out, stomping a hoof. “He said Friendship was problem! Magic of Friendship big problem to plans! So he tries to get rid of it!” “By sucking the Magic out of us, yadda yadda yada.” Smolder muttered, rolling her hand as she chuckled. “Next thing you know, he breaks out this old junk and puts it around the pyramid, starts having his cultists chanting some song stuff, and the magic starts happening.” “Then this crazy guy fell out from the ceiling and-” Gallus however was interrupted. “Wait wait wait.” Starlight stopped him there. “Hold on. You all were kidnapped? From the Treehouse?” She asked, looking around to them. The students all stared back at her and nodded. “And you were trapped in some cult ritual, trying to suck out your magic?” “No- the magic from the Tree of Harmony!” Silverstream explained. “We’re filled with the stuff apparently!” Starlight blinked and looked back to Twilight, who was equally shocked. They had been aware that the children might have been carrying some of the remnants from the Tree of Harmony with them. But to have a full blown connection to something they had never personally even seen before, was a thought that had never crossed either of their minds. “Yeah! He said it was important that he get rid of it!” Ocellus said, floating up with a buzz of her wings, looking in a concerned manner over to her Professors and Headmare(s). “We didn’t get to figure out why, but we can’t let him go! We have to follow the magic back to his hideout-” “Hold on.” Trixie put out a hoof to shut the little bug up. “Are you suggesting, we four adults and you six children, drop everything to go on a magical quest across the country to a location you couldn't identify. Find an evil griffon, and his cult, and foil his evil plan for what will likely be world domination of some variety?” She asked. Starlight just rolled her eyes at Trixie’s blatant question, but Trixie gave her a glare back. “Oh don’t even try and pull me into this, you and I had an adventure across the world once this year, I don’t need another.” Ocellus looked back to her friends for a moment, whom all slowly turned to look at eachother. Then kinda shrugged as they looked back to her. “Uhm... Yes?” She offered uncertainly. Twilight shook her head and sighed. “Alright, alright. Don’t worry about the griffon for right now- we can talk about that later.” "Twilight's right." Starlight admitted. "And to be honest?" She walked up to them all for a moment and just sighed thankfully. “I’m just happy you are all back, safe and sound." "Indeed~" Twilight commented. "... But, if you don’t mind me asking. How did you all get away?” She asked. “Oh, we sang our way back!” Silverstream explained. “We started singing when the crazy stallion got everyone else sick with a magic flute, and then we all overtook the spell they were casting!” “You ‘sang’ your way back?” Sunburst asked. “It was part of the ritual thing to suck our magic out.” Smolder muttered, picking up a piece of crystal and gently munching on it like a carrot. “The Librarian put it together. Part of it was the singing, part of it was the crystals, part of it was the stuff they painted, part of it was the antique magical junk they gathered up. It was like, they were all parts in some weird magic engine thingy.” The young dragoness muttered, giving a shrug to her professors while munching away. The three faculty members, and a Princess all blinked at the dragon, but eventually Trixie was the mind to prevail before any of the others. “... The who?” “The Librarian.” Ocellus said. “He was the one who saved us! Well, helped us really. He brought us back home.” “Yeah! He was super smart, and knew a lot of stuff about magic and old relics-” Silver began, turning around. “He was the one who sent us back! But, I don’t see him anywhere...” Gallus frowned and looked back to the hatch. “Well. He wasn’t behind us, he would have been underground with us.” “Maybe he got sent to his home?” Yona asked curiously. Everyone looked around for a moment, before giving confused looks to each other. Twilight and Starlight seeming equally confused, but decided to defuse the situation instead of escalating it for the children’s sake. “Well. It doesn’t matter too much.” Starlight said, walking up to the children and sitting down before them. “All in all, I’m glad you guys are safe~” “Indeed” Twilight said- before she blinked. "Wow. Deja Vu." She muttered, then continued to light up her horn, lifting the shards of broken crystal off of her library floor. “Now then. Let’s get you kids settled in and taken care of-” “Oh! N-No!” Silver called out sternly, before blushing as the eyes in the room turned on her. “Er... I mean... W-We want to talk?” She offered. It took a few seconds, but it slowly began to click in the students heads again. After that weird little adventure (if they could even call it that, they were just kidnapped for a night) they had all forgotten what they had been talking about right before the transportation. “Oh! Right!” The littlest ling among them turned to the Headmare and Princess. “We don’t want to leave the school of friendship! We- we didn’t want to run away again, like we did last time.” She admitted, as that still felt like an oversight on their own part for not thinking it through. But hey, they were kids. “Yes! We wanted to talk!” Yona stated, stamping a hoof down on the carpeted floor. “We wanted to talk to Headmare Starlight! Make case for staying at school through semester!” Smolder nodded and stood beside Yona, leaning on her gently with crossed arms. “Yeah, what she said. You can’t just teach us all of this emotional stuff about learning how to work together, and loyalty, then expect us to be okay with ditching this place before we get to finish out the year.” “Please Headmare Starlight? Princess Twilight?” Sandbar tried his best and darndest to make himself seem as small and adorable as possible, with large eyes and a fragile smile- Gallus catching the hint and getting in beside him as they held their hands over their chests. “Yeah, common teach. Please don’t split us up yet?” Gallus offered, bringing his own cuteness to bear. At that moment, all the children began joining in the Guilt-Tripping party of creatures with large eyes and desperate looks. They all asked politely, while singing the praises of what the school had taught them, and how they were as close as could be for friends. It made Twilight’s heart quiver in her chest to hear the testimonies from her students, and how strongly they had taken to her lessons. While making Starlight all the more receptive to their pleas for help- not to mention ringing with her own ambitions for these six particular students. However. They thankfully had someone on staff who was immune to this type of nuclear option. “Alright, enough of that.” Trixie stated, swooping in and wiping her hoof in front of their faces, making a few of them lose their concentration. “You know we can’t make that decision without consulting your guardians first- and you know we can’t show any favoritism in the school. If we make an exception for you six, what will every other student think when they learn we kept the school open for you?” Without missing a beat, Gallus spoke up. “Our guardians made some special deal with you all to keep us here and finish our education properly like you promised, and not go to war with you?” “So that Pony School doesn’t look weak and bad to neighbors who were considering sending other students!” Yona declared. “Sunk Cost Fallacy!” “That’s not how that works Yona.” Ocellus giggled nonetheless and shook her head. “That as political representatives from other countries, it’s important that you don’t let the message of friendship die by splitting us apart?” “Because we haven’t even finished the first year of school yet?” Sandbar suggested optimistically. "... What? All the good ones were taken..." Trixie blinked and snorted as she looked about the three smart-alecs and the doormat who all spoke up, as those were rather impressive and hard to argue points. Politically speaking at least, Twilight recognized that the School of Friendship would be seen as a failure to other species in the wider world if they did send these six back. If a student whom she personally taught couldn't even graduate from the school, let alone pass the first grade what would the nation's of the world think? Still though, image aside, there were other avenues she could take towards spreading the message of friendship. “Well, while those are good motivations for us personally.” She said, looking over to Starlight. “And we don’t want to split any of you children up, we would still need a very good reason for your parents and guardians for keeping you here.” Smolder snorted and rolled her eyes. “Well why not just tell them we were kidnapped by some bad guy and you guys can offer us protection? Most of our countries don’t even know how to use magic, much less defend from it, so you could probably strong arm most of them into agreeing for that.” She pointed out. “....” Starlight blinked, and slowly looked back to the other three ‘adults’ in the room. “That’s... a fairly good reason... actually.” She admitted, drawing out her words as she was a bit shocked by it. “Jeez, don’t sound so surprised about it.” Smolder grumbled, but looked away as a small blush grew on her cheeks. “Still!” Trixie cut back in. “We don’t have anyone to teach you! And we can’t find six teachers on short notice, that’s why we need to close down the school to begin with.” She reminded them. Twilight suddenly blinked and turned her head over to Sunburst curtly. “Wait, that’s why Starlight’s closing the school?” She asked him with a small whisper. Sunburst did his best to try and hold in his embarrassment, but did give Twilight a small nod. “The moment you ascended to the crown and became monarch, the other Elements all handed in their resignations separately. She didn’t want to tell you because she was afraid if she did, you would feel guilty.” Realization and guilty horror grew on Twilight’s face as Sunburst’s words came true within a few seconds. What she had just done to her poor student?! She turned to look to Starlight, who was somehow still handling the situation, even while the metaphorical ship was sinking around her. Even Celestia and Luna had the decency to make sure the Government wasn’t going to collapse, and their loyalists weren’t going to throw her off the throne before they abdicated it! “... ohmygod, I’m a terrible teacher...” “Sadly, Trixie is right.” Starlight commented, but tried to smile and lighten the children’s moods, ignoring Trixie’s comment of; “When isn’t Trixie?” with a forceful grin. “We don’t have any staff to teach you right now... but. We won’t just outright ignore your comments either.” Starlight told them, giving a small sigh. The children all slumped slowly, having gathered together again as a group before their councilor. They were all thinking the same thing again, just like back in the treehouse. ‘It’s over. We’re never going to see eachother again.’ It brought the more emotionally in touch children to tears, Silver, Ocellus, Yona... They didn’t cry but. You could see how they were about to. The defeated looks on the children’s faces crushed her heart all the more. Starlight didn’t let them wear it for long. “We’ll talk with your Guardians.” She told them. “I’ll see if we can’t come up with something between us. Strike a deal or make a compromise- whatever it’ll take.” She admitted, before reaching out as she hugged the children with her hooves- as many as she could fit between them. “... I already had to tell two hundred and ninety four students I couldn’t watch over them... I won’t tell you six the same. You’re too important to me, alright? All six of you~” She whispered, giving a small smile as she knew these children so well. Six months hearing their every problem, and working on them all together in her every spare moment. Starlight was dedicated to them- more so than any of her own friends. There was a moment of shock and pause from the students, before the dam slowly cracked. And then burst into tears. Big, huge, sopping yak tears. Yona cried into Starlight’s chest, horns just barely touching her shoulder blades, while the other five swarmed Starlight and hugged at her sides. Even Smolder and Gallus hugged her- getting over their friends and need to be ‘the cool kids’ in order to do so. “Thank you! Thank you Headmare Starlight!” Silver cried out, speaking on behalf of the other students and making Starlight blush only a little as she looked around her. “Aww, no. No, guys. You don’t have to thank me!” Behind the hug-pile on Starlight, the rest of the faculty was just watching from a distance. Sunburst seemed like he was about to cry, magicing up some tissues for himself and dabbing at his eyes as he lifted his glasses. Trixie gave a small roll of her eyes, drawing back to sit with Twilight, who was as perplexed as she was amazed by this scene. “.... You said. She listened-” “She listened to every one of them.” Trixie stopped Twilight right there. “She listened to every problem, and answered every question. She sat through every emotional dilemma and long, ongoing rant. -sigh- ... She spent every waking second they needed her, to be there for them.” Trixie reaffirmed, just as she did back in Starlight’s office. “I don’t know if it’s because of her compulsion for dedication, her own abandonment issues. The things you’ve taught her about friendship, and what it means to be there for someone even on their worst day, or because she developed a habit for helping others with their everyday problems, while running a town full of wackoo’s and nutjobs. Probably all four... But, she cares about these kids.” Trixie affirmed to her, looking over to Twilight. “... You can’t let them get taken away from her.” Twilight’s gaze fell upon Trixie- who was returning it with a very stern but relaxed look. “I mean it.” Trixie told her. “You can’t let these kids slip away from her. As her friend? I’m telling you they mean a lot to her. Even if she doesn’t realize it fully just yet.” Twilight, dumbfounded by Trixie’s statement and the understanding she had of her pupil, slowly nodded to her instead of talking about it more. She nodded as her gaze turned back towards the students, who were all beginning to smile again in various stages. “... Alright.” She nodded still, her gaze stealing over with determination. “Alright. I won’t let it happen then.” “Good.” Trixie then smiled and turned back towards the others, getting up. “Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go play bad cop. It’s what Trixie does best~” She stated gleefully, trotting up to the group, before clearing her throat. “Heh-HEM! Alright! Crying time is over, we need to get you kids back to your dorms before your guardians realize you were missing!” Silver cocked her head to the side as she opened up her wings and fluttered over everyone. “Wait, we were missing?” “For how long?” Ocellus asked, as everyone began to pull away from Starlight. “A Full Day.” Trixie said, giving a chuckle at the mortified expressions on the kids faces. “Yes yes, don’t worry. They don’t know yet- none of them besides the Yak Party have even asked. Thankfully, Pinkie Pie was on call to distract them.” Trixie explained with a roll of her hoof. “Either way, I suggest you all go and get something to eat. Clean up. And go talk to them.... Right now.” She told them. Giggling, Starlight nodded as her friend came to her side. “Once again, Trixie is right.” She said, ignoring the glare from her friend. “Why do you make it sound like that is so surprising, everytime you say it? Of course Trixie is right! Trixie is-” “You all had your talk with us.” Starlight continued, this getting on Trixie’s nerves, but shutting her up for the moment. “But we are only half of the conversation. We can all agree to watch over you for the next few months, and I’m sure the three of us can find someone to teach you before summer begins. But for now? You all should go, and have a heart to heart with your own people.” She stated, before looking up to Smolder- whom was shaking her head dismissively. “... Or, have a fight with them.” She contrasted jokingly, watching as Smolder’s gaze brightened a bit. “Whatever they might listen to~” “Yes Headmare Starlight.” They all said in unison, and quickly made moves to get up and leave. They all began conversing about between themselves as they left, talking about their experiences and bringing up the problems of how they would confront their parents, or convince their guardians to let them stay. Leaving the staff behind for the moment to talk amongst themselves about more ‘serious’ matters.... “... They were kidnapped?” Sunburst asked, watching as the library doors closed behind them. “But the magic that sent them there belonged to the Tree of Harmony. I’m certain of it.” “The Shards are from the tree.” Twilight explained, looking up to the sharp crystals she was still holding up above them. “I’ve been scanning them the whole time we’ve been talking. It is likely that whoever took them used them to summon whatever else remained of the tree's magical signature. But, I know for a fact Princess Celestia had all of the shards recovered and locked away in Canterlot’s Vaults shortly after Sombra’s invasion. This doesn't make any sense- I don’t know how they got a hold of them... I’ll need to contact her about this, as soon as possible.” “And what about the 'Relics?'” Starlight asked. “The kids said there was “old junk” lying around them. And that it was based off of Cozy Glow’s spell. I got a good look at that spell when I was trapped inside of it, and it used the six relics from the different nations as a way to spread the reach of the spell over those species...” “And what about this ‘mad-stallion’ they claimed saved them?” Trixie offered. “From what they were saying, he somehow sent them home. And he knew about the relics, while he was somehow also able to override a new type of spell to bring them here? Why didn’t the spell bring him here like it did the Children?” “I don’t know.” Twilight muttered, looking down to the hatch in the back corner of the library. “... But, I do know one thing.” She admitted, sighing as she looked back to them. “I’m going to need to do some research on this ‘Librarian.’” Trixie blew hot air past her lips and shook her head. “He sounds like an Egghead if I ever heard one.” She muttered, before yawning slowly as she looked outside. “Hmm. Trixie doesn’t know about you, but it’s nearly two. Trixie thinks she’ll go for a nice cat-nap while the students get settled in-” “Oh no you don’t.” Starlight muttered, grabbing Trixie by her tail with her magic as the ex-magician tried to disappear from the library. “You and I still have about another one hundred and eighty sets of parents to go through and help relocate their children.” Trixie yiped and then groaned. “Nooooo! No! Not again- Trixie can’t STAND sitting in that musty office all day! Trixie needs fresh air! Sunlight! Cute stallions adoring her and serving her every whim!” She declared as she was getting dragged out of the library. Sunburst chuckled and followed behind. “When was Trixie ever getting stallions to serve her?” “When they were young and stupid.” She grumbled, crossing her hooves. Giggling to herself, Twilight nodded and teleported the crystal shards back to Canterlot. She was about to follow the others out, when she felt a small tingle in her sense. Just something out of the corner of her eye. She stopped and looked around her library, being the last library she had really called "hers" before the move. Her eyes darted and scanned the room briefly, before slowly growing less concerned by the moment. “A librarian huh? ... Well. I suppose somepony has to take up the job.” She admitted, giving a small sigh to herself as she closed her eyes and put a hoof to her chest. A soft, noiseless breath escaped her when she did, before she let her hoof push away, just as Cadence had taught her. “... This isn’t my story anymore. So, good luck to you. Whoever you are. You’re going to need it~” She stated calmly, before nodding to herself with a smile only she could see. With that, she went on her way as well. Locking the library door behind her... Shadows slowly walked up underneath the door. Four at first, before it became a set of two. Someone jiggled the handle from the other side, then fidgeted with something in their grip. Moments later, there was the sound of a turning lock, with a solid ‘thunk!’ A soft golden light encased the doorway from the other side, casting a beautiful shimmering light down the hall- but it faded just as quickly as it had appeared, leaving nothing but a soft thrum of intense magic to fill the air of the empty school... Thus Concludes... THe Librarian! And THe Next Generation of Friendship