Book 2: Las Pegasus
“The draconequus are beings of chaos,” Scrollkeeper said as he opened one of his books for Celestia and Luna to see. “The limits and strength of their powers are unknown. Even our most skilled unicorns have been unable to overpower him.”
“Do the archives mention somepony overcoming a draconequus?” Celestia asked as she flipped through the pages of the book. “There has to be something that will help us find a weakness.”
“There may have been a few, but the archives are silent as to how this was achieved,” Scrollkeeper said. “I’ve been looking for more detailed accounts since Discord first arrived in Equestria, but so far, I have found nothing.”
“Is there somepony else who might know more?” Luna asked.
“Perhaps,” Scrollkeeper said. “I have a friend, Bookworm, who studied the draconequus in Canterlot for a few months, but he lives in Las Pegasus, and it’s gotten too dangerous for me to go there alone.”
“It’s better than nothing,” Celestia said. “How long would it take us to reach him?”
“At my flying pace, it would take about a day,” Scrollkeeper said. “However, with your sister in her condition, we would have to walk, which would take us almost a week.”
“A week?” Luna repeated. “But we only have a month!”
“Precisely,” Scrollkeeper said. “The only viable option would be for Luna to stay in Everfree while Celestia and I travel to Las Pegasus.”
“No!” Luna said. “I’m not staying here alone!”
“Calm yourself, little sister,” Celestia said. “There must be another option. Galeforce, perhaps?”
“He refuses to leave the village,” Scrollkeeper said. “Besides, if I know Bookworm, he won’t talk to just anypony.”
“Not that Galeforce would help us anyway,” Luna added.
“Ahem.” The three turned to find Galeforce standing in the doorway once again. “I’m here to inform you that the Everfree Security Council has decided to lift the restrictions placed on the alicorns. They are to have free access to any and all records that might help them rid us of Discord and his mischief. Also, the alicorns have the full support of the Council in furthering this goal and will be allowed access to its resources.”
“What?” Luna said.
“He said he’s going to help us now,” Celestia said. “Why this sudden change of heart?”
“You passed the test,” Galeforce said. “You have proven yourselves both willing and able to stand up to Discord – far more drastically than any of us ever expected, I might add. You have taken a great risk in accepting Discord’s challenge, and we will do everything in our power to help you. Together, we will rid Equestria of the draconequus and restore order and harmony.”
“Thank you,” Celestia said. “We will keep that in mind.”
“Also,” Galeforce continued, tapping a hoof uncomfortably on the floor. “I wanted to apologize for my personal behavior towards both of you. In my eagerness to protect this village, I may have acted rashly and unfairly. So, um, sorry.”
“Galeforce apologizing?” Scrollkeeper said with a wry smile. “This is a rare event indeed.”
“Yes, well, don’t get used to it,” Galeforce said gruffly.
“Thank you,” Celestia said, trying not to laugh at Galeforce’s discomfort. “We will all put the past behind us and work together to achieve our common goal.”
“Speaking of which,” Scrollkeeper said, “I was just talking about visiting a friend in Las Pegasus who may have more information about how to defeat Discord.”
“We hoped you might be willing to accompany him,” Celestia said.
“I can’t leave Everfree at the moment,” Galeforce said. “Council business and so forth. Perhaps you could go with him. Your magic would come in handy if things get rough.”
“I’m afraid Luna is unable to fly,” Celestia said.
“She can stay here,” Galeforce said. “I’ll make sure she’s safe until you return.”
“You?” Luna said. “You wanted to throw us in prison!”
“Luna, please,” Celestia said, though she shared Luna’s concerns. “Is there anypony else that could help?”
“There are only a handful of pegasi in Everfree, and all of us are kept busy with our responsibilities here,” Galeforce said. “Perhaps we could recruit some from nearby towns, but that would take time.”
“Time we do not have,” Scrollkeeper said. “As I said before, if you wish to visit Las Pegasus, you will have to leave your sister behind. You can trust the Council to keep her safe now that it is on your side.”
“What if it’s a trick?” Luna asked, glaring at Galeforce. “What if you’re lying to us?”
“Enough,” Celestia said. “Bickering will get us nowhere. My sister and I need some time alone. We will inform you when we reach our decision.”
Celestia and Luna spoke little as they walked back to Shuttleweave’s shop. The ponies were still watching them, though now their faces shone with admiration rather than suspicion. “Everypony seems happier,” Celestia said with a glance at her sister. Luna did not reply as they entered the shop. “What do you think, Luna?”
“About what?” Luna asked.
“About going to Las Pegasus,” Celestia said. “If Scrollkeeper’s friend knows as much about the draconequus as he says, his knowledge will be invaluable.”
“But a week?” Luna said. “Do we really have that much time?”
“No,” Celestia said. “Scrollkeeper is right. We would have to split up.”
“Well, we’re not going to do that,” Luna said. It was only when Celestia was silent that she added, “Are we?”
Celestia sighed. “I don’t want to leave you here while you’re injured, but we don’t have much of a choice,” she said. “You won’t be ready to fly again for a few days, and I think Scrollkeeper’s friend can help us.”
“But what about Galeforce? What about the Security Council?” Luna asked. “What if they try to do something while you’re gone and I’m not strong enough to get away?”
“The Council is on our side now,” Celestia said. “Galeforce may be rash, but I don’t take him for a liar.”
“But what if he is?”
“Luna,” Celestia said, “I won’t leave you if you don’t want me to. But I truly believe going to Las Pegasus is the right thing for me to do. Can you be brave for me?”
“I can’t,” Luna said with a shake of her head. “I’m not brave. Not like you.”
“Not brave?” Celestia said. “You stood up to Discord while other ponies were too frightened to move. You have been very brave.”
“Only because you were there, too,” Luna said.
“Courage is something that comes from within, little sister,” Celestia said. “Do you believe in what we’re doing now?”
Luna nodded. “Yes.”
“Then I know you can find your courage,” Celestia said. “If anypony tries to say you’re on Discord’s side, you just remind them who it was that stood up to him in the square.”
“Do you think that will really work?” Luna asked.
“I know it will,” Celestia said with a smile.
Luna took a deep breath. “All right. I’ll do it. But you better not take too long,” she added.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Celestia said with a laugh. “Come on. Let’s tell Scrollkeeper to get ready.”
Scrollkeeper and Celestia set out just after dawn. Celestia felt uneasy about leaving Luna behind despite what she’d said, but she told herself to be strong as she soared above the trees. If Luna can do it, so can you.
“Keep a sharp eye out once we reach the mountains,” Scrollkeeper said. “Griffons like to nest there, and they’ve been more aggressive than usual of late.”
“Of course,” Celestia said.
“We should land by that lake,” Scrollkeeper continued, gesturing towards the ground. “We won’t find a lot of water once we cross the mountains.” The two circled down and drank their fill. “You seem distracted,” Scrollkeeper observed.
“Do I?”
Scrollkeeper looked at her for a moment. “You’re worried about your sister, aren’t you?” he asked.
“A little,” Celestia said.
“I understand your concern, but believe me when I say you have nothing to fear,” Scrollkeeper said. “I know Galeforce to be a pony of his word. If he says he’ll protect her, she will be safe.”
The two crossed the mountains without incident and found themselves flying over a desert. “Is this Discord’s doing?” Celestia asked.
“No, this has always been a desert,” Scrollkeeper said. “If Discord wanted to cause some real chaos around here, he’d make it rain.”
“Wouldn’t that be a good thing?” Celestia asked.
“The ponies have adapted to the dry conditions,” Scrollkeeper said. “Too much water would cause as much havoc here as no water in Everfree.”
After several more hours of flying, Celestia spotted a town on the horizon. “That’s Las Pegasus,” Scrollkeeper said when she asked. “It’s a good thing we’re almost there. My wings are aching.”
A small crowd had gathered when Celestia and Scrollkeeper landed just outside the town at sunset. “Hello there!” said a green unicorn with a gray mane and a gavel-shaped mark on his flank. “I am Gavel Law, mayor of Las Pegasus. Who might you be?”
“I am Scrollkeeper, an old friend of Bookworm’s,” Scrollkeeper said. “This is Celestia, who has decided to help us drive Discord out of Equestria.”
“You don’t say?” Gavel Law said as he looked Celestia over. “You’re an alicorn, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Celestia said. “You know about us?”
“Only what the legends say,” Gavel Law said. “Bookworm’s been researching them for me for quite some time.”
“I would like to speak with Bookworm,” Scrollkeeper said. “I have urgent business to discuss with him.”
“I’m afraid he’s busy,” Gavel Law said. “As I said, he’s doing research for me, and it’s very important. I would be happy to show you the town in the meantime. It would be better to discuss your business after you have rested, would it not?”
“I suppose,” Scrollkeeper said with a frown. “I am rather tired from our journey.”
“Excellent!” Gavel Law said. Celestia and Scrollkeeper followed him as he walked through Las Pegasus’ dusty streets. “As you can see, we’re still repairing some of the damages Discord caused last week,” he said as they passed a crew of construction ponies hammering nails into a roof. “It was quite a storm, but nothing we couldn’t handle.”
“What else has Discord done here?” Celestia asked, noting several other buildings in need of repairs.
“Surprisingly little, compared to what he’s done elsewhere,” Gavel Law said. “Well, what news can you bring from across the mountains? Hardly anypony makes that journey now, so we don’t hear much.”
Celestia looked around while Scrollkeeper answered Gavel Law’s questions. The buildings here were made mostly of wood, and many bore the marks of recent repairs. Patches of fresh boards covered holes in walls and roofs, and most of the ponies she saw were hauling materials or moving their things back into their houses. Curiously, almost every pony that saw her paused for a moment with wide eyes before hurriedly returning to their work, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Is that so?” Gavel Law said, distracting Celestia from her thoughts. She turned and saw the stallion looking at her. “You actually fought Discord and lived to tell the tale?”
“I wouldn’t call it a fight, exactly,” Celestia said, trying not to remember how easily Discord had stopped her attack.
“Not a fight? Goodness, you keep him from setting the sun and you don’t call it a fight?” Gavel Law said with a chuckle. “My, you do have spirit.”
“Oh, that,” Celestia said. “Yes, my sister and I managed to keep him from changing the day and night at will, but it won’t last forever.”
“That’s the most extraordinary thing I’ve heard in a long time,” Gavel Law said. “You and your sister must be powerful indeed.”
“Is that why everypony is looking at me?” Celestia asked.
“Oh, don’t mind them,” Gavel Law said. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to our hotel. It’s not much, what with travel being what it is, but it’ll give you a roof over your heads.”
The hotel turned out to be little more than an open enclosure with some hay and a water trough. The manager seemed surprised and a little jumpy when they walked in. “H-how can I help you?” she asked.
“We’re looking for a place to stay for a couple nights,” Scrollkeeper said.
“Oh! O-okay!” the manager said, pulling a sheet of paper from a stack on her desk. “That’ll be, um, eight bits per night. Here’s your lodging agreement.”
“I will be covering their lodging expenses,” Gavel Law said. His horn lit up with a green aura, and a blue seal appeared on the paper. “Just send me the bill when they leave.”
“Oh! Okay!” the manager said. “Um, well, pick wherever you want, I guess. I’ll fill the trough and make sure the hay is still good.” The mare bolted away before Celestia could thank her.
“She’s been nervous since the storm,” Gavel Law explained. “Well, I should probably get back to the town hall. Is there anything I can do for you before I go?”
“You’ve done plenty,” Scrollkeeper said. “Are you sure you want to cover our expenses here? I’ve brought enough money.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Gavel Law said. “We’ve been more fortunate than most in these troubling times, and it’s only right that we help those who are struggling. Rest well. I hope to see you tomorrow.”
The nervous manager brought them a couple threadbare blankets and wished them a good stay before excusing herself for the night. “Eight bits,” Scrollkeeper muttered as he drank heavily from the trough. “Times sure have changed.”
“Did the manager seem odd to you?” Celestia asked between mouthfuls of hay.
“Did it seem odd to you the way everypony looked at you?” Scrollkeeper said. “I noticed it, too. I’m not one to pry into other ponies’ business, but there’s more going on here than Gavel Law’s telling us.”
“Perhaps they think I’m working for – you know,” Celestia said, lowering her voice in case somepony was listening.
“If that were the case, they would have driven us out,” Scrollkeeper said. “It’s strange that Gavel Law would have Bookworm study the old alicorn legends, though. The draconequus are his specialty, and one would think that would be more useful.”
“So what should we do?” Celestia asked.
“For now, I think we should rest,” Scrollkeeper said. “Tomorrow, we’ll go see Bookworm. Hopefully, we’ll be back in Everfree with some answers in a few days.”
Celestia nodded and closed her eyes as her thoughts turned to her sister. I hope she’s okay. She would never forgive herself if something terrible happened to Luna while she was away.
After getting the manager to stand still long enough to give them directions, the two set out for the library, doing their best to ignore the stares Celestia drew from the Las Pegasus ponies. “Is it going to be like this everywhere I go?” Celestia asked, trying not to sound as annoyed as she felt.
“I would expect so,” Scrollkeeper said as they arrived at the library. “Alicorns are a thing of legend as far as Equestria is concerned.”
The two walked into the library, which looked about the same as Everfree’s, only a little less organized. A dark blue unicorn with a spikey yellow and gray mane was busily reading two different scrolls and taking notes while muttering to himself. He looked younger than Scrollkeeper, and his flank bore the image of a thick book.
“Bookworm, there you are,” said Scrollkeeper. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d gotten lost in here.”
“Scrollkeeper!” the unicorn said with a smile as he set his work carefully on a table. “I see you finally have your hooves on the ground instead of hovering around some dusty bookshelf.”
“At least I remember to put things back when I’m done with them,” Scrollkeeper said. “How have you been?”
“Oh, as well as one could expect,” Bookworm said. “I hear things are rougher on the other side of the mountains.”
“We manage,” Scrollkeeper said, taking a glance at Bookworm’s work. “Alicorns, I see. Seems like an odd choice.”
“The mayor asked me to look through some records we received from Canterlot a few days ago,” Bookworm said, rolling up his scrolls with a spell. “Ancient pony legends and whatnot. Fascinating stuff. I think you’d like them.”
“Canterlot?” Scrollkeeper repeated. “Gavel Law didn’t mention somepony had been there recently.”
“He didn’t stay long,” Bookworm said. “Gavel Law said he just dropped off these scrolls and flew away. Not sure where he came from or where he went.” Bookworm seemed to notice Celestia for the first time and frowned. “And who are you?”
“My name is Celestia,” the alicorn said. “Scrollkeeper and I have come to ask you about the draconequus, if you’re not too busy.”
“She came with you?” Bookworm looked at Scrollkeeper, who gave a short nod. “I see. Why did you come all the way here? The Canterlot archives should have plenty of information.”
“I’ve searched the archives many times, but I haven’t found anything,” Scrollkeeper said. “Since you’ve studied them extensively, I thought you might be able to help.”
“Me?” Bookworm said. “I know no more about the draconequus than you, Scrollkeeper.”
“You spent weeks studying them in Canterlot,” Scrollkeeper said.
“That was many years ago.”
“Surely you still have your notes?”
“Perhaps,” Bookworm said, “but I haven’t any idea where they are.”
Celestia tried to read Scrollkeeper’s expression, but the old pegasus’ face gave her no clues as to what he was thinking. Did we come all this way for nothing? she wondered.
“Do you mind if we look around?” Scrollkeeper asked. “Perhaps the records here will help us.”
“I suppose,” Bookworm said. “If you’ll excuse me, I must deliver this report.” Bookworm walked out of the library with a scroll floating just behind him.
“What do we do now?” Celestia asked.
“Start searching, I suppose,” Scrollkeeper said. Though his expression was even, Celestia thought she heard a hint of disappointment in his tone. “Look through those scrolls over there. If you find anything, let me know.”
They stopped for lunch a few hours later without any more information about the draconequus than they’d had when they started. “This is absurd,” Celestia said between bites of her daffodil sandwich. “We need answers, not dusty old archives.”
“The archives are where the answers will be found,” Scrollkeeper said. “Research requires patience.”
“But we don’t have time!” Celestia said. “I thought your friend would be able to tell us everything we need to know. I didn’t expect to have to go searching for answers.”
“You thought overthrowing Discord would be easy?” Scrollkeeper asked.
“I didn’t think the hard part would be figuring out how,” Celestia muttered.
“Celestia, we have been looking for these answers for decades,” Scrollkeeper said. “The unicorns in Canterlot thought they’d found a solution, and the city was destroyed as a result. We are treading deep into unknown territory, and it will not be easy.”
“Well, maybe it wouldn’t be so hard if your friend would help,” Celestia said.
She’d meant it as an insult, but Scrollkeeper nodded in agreement. “Bookworm’s behavior is rather odd,” he said. “As is everypony’s behavior here.”
“What do you mean?” Celestia asked.
“M-more water?” a waitress asked, shifting her weight nervously as she approached their table. Celestia nodded. The waitress spilled half the pitcher trying to fill her cup. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” the waitress said before bolting to get a towel.
“That’s what I mean,” Scrollkeeper said. “They seem frightened of you.”
“You said alicorns were just a legend to them,” Celestia said.
“Yes, but that doesn’t explain their fear,” Scrollkeeper said.
“Well, well, how are you this fine afternoon?” Scrollkeeper and Celestia turned to see Gavel Law approaching their table. “Enjoying your stay, I hope?”
“It has been most interesting,” Scrollkeeper said. “Is there something we can do for you?”
“Why, yes, as a matter of fact,” Gavel Law said, turning to Celestia. “I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time.”
“Oh? Why might that be?” Celestia asked.
“Well, since you’re standing up to Discord and all, I thought we could discuss what you plan to do,” Gavel Law said. “I’d like to help in any way possible. Getting rid of Discord should be everypony’s number one priority, after all.”
“Thank you,” Celestia said. “What we really need is information about the draconequus before we can settle on a plan to get rid of him.”
“You don’t say?” Gavel Law said. “Well, as it happens, a pony arrived from Canterlot today with some archive scrolls. They’re in my office at city hall if you’d like to take a peek. I haven’t read them thoroughly, but they look like they contain a lot of information about Discord.”
“How often do ponies arrive with archive scrolls?” Scrollkeeper asked.
“Oh, not often,” Gavel Law said. “Maybe once or twice a year at best.”
“That’s strange, Bookworm said somepony delivered some archive scrolls just a few days ago,” Scrollkeeper said.
“He did?” Gavel Law said with a frown.
“The ones he’s been studying for you.”
“Oh, yes!” Gavel Law said with a laugh. “I’m sorry, my memory must have slipped. It’s not every day an alicorn comes by to free your country, after all!”
“Of course,” Scrollkeeper said.
“Anyways, what do you say, Celestia?” Gavel Law said. “It’ll only take a moment, and I think you’ll find a lot of good information. It’s better than searching through a dusty old library, at least.”
“It sounds like a good idea to me,” Celestia said. “Scrollkeeper, what do you think?”
“Hmm?” Scrollkeeper blinked a couple times and shook his head. “I’m sorry, I was thinking about something. I think I’ll head back to the library and keep searching.”
“Very well,” Gavel Law said. “Come with me, Celestia.” The alicorn followed Gavel Law down the street, leaving Scrollkeeper to his thoughts.
“Bookworm? Are you in here?” Scrollkeeper looked around the library but saw no sign of his friend. He walked over to the table and looked at the scrolls Bookworm had been studying that morning. “I wonder what these could be,” he muttered.
“Back away from those.” Scrollkeeper turned to see Bookworm walking towards him, his horn aglow with a red aura. “I want to know why you’re really here.”
“I came to ask you about the draconequus,” Scrollkeeper said, backing slowly away from the table.
“With an alicorn?” Bookworm said with a snort. “Please. You think I’d believe an alicorn would come asking me for help?”
“Why wouldn’t she?”
“You forget I’ve been studying them, Scrollkeeper,” Bookworm said. “I know what she is and what she intends to do to me if she finds out what I know. The question is, do you?”
“What are you talking about?” Scrollkeeper asked.
“I know you know about them,” Bookworm said. “But why would you lie to me? Has Discord cast a spell on you? Or was it his alicorn servant?”
“She is not working for Discord,” Scrollkeeper said. “I saw her stand up to him with my own eyes.”
“It was a trick. These scrolls make it clear that the alicorns serve the draconequus,” Bookworm said, jerking his head towards the scrolls on the table. “They are sent to trick ponies into trusting them. They fill us with false hope to keep us from finding the true answer.”
“True answer?”
Bookworm smiled. “I’d love to tell you more, old friend, but I can’t take that risk,” he said. “If the alicorn finds out what I know, she’ll come for me.”
Scrollkeeper took a deep breath and chose his words carefully. “I don’t know what you’ve read, but I do know what I’ve seen with my eyes. Celestia and her sister resisted Discord’s power with their own and won. Though they are not strong enough to drive him from Equestria, I believe they can help us, but we need your help as well.”
Bookworm’s eyes narrowed as he studied Scrollkeeper’s face. “You’re not lying, are you?” he said.
“As you said, why would I?”
The red aura around Bookworm’s horn vanished, much to Scrollkeeper’s relief. “Then you must read these records,” Bookworm said. “Despite what you’ve seen, you must take them into account.”
Scrollkeeper walked over to the table and unfurled one of the scrolls. “Where did these come from?” he asked.
“The Canterlot archives,” Bookworm said.
“Who told you that?”
“Gavel Law,” Bookworm said. “As I said this morning, a pony arrived with –”
“This is a fake.”
Bookworm blinked in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“I have seen thousands of archive scrolls, and this is clearly a forgery,” Scrollkeeper said. “The date is on the wrong side, and the writing style is inconsistent with others of this era. This parchment isn’t nearly old enough, and scrolls were sealed with string at the time this was supposedly written, not ribbon. In fact,” Scrollkeeper said as he opened the others, “the only one that isn’t a forgery is this one.”
“That one is from my own records,” Bookworm said, looking at the scrolls with disbelief. “Are you sure they’re fakes?”
“If you need further evidence, look at the archive seal,” Scrollkeeper said, pointing to a blue stamp in the top right corner. “See the serpent around the edge? This is the Canterlot serpent seal, and it indicates that the record is untrue. The unicorns used it to try and give Discord false information while they searched for a way to defeat him.”
“So this is one of their false records?” Bookworm asked.
“No,” Scrollkeeper said. “The unicorns were very careful to make sure everything else was identical to a real archive record, and this one has many discrepancies, as I’ve already mentioned.”
“But – then where did they come from?” Bookworm asked.
“I have no idea,” Scrollkeeper said. “You said one was from your own records. What is it?”
“Instructions for an imprisonment spell,” Bookworm said. “Gavel Law said he wanted to be prepared if…” Bookworm’s eyes widened. “Celestia!”
“I’m a fool,” Bookworm said as he and Scrollkeeper raced through the streets. “The first thing I should have done was check their authenticity.”
“You can worry about that later,” Scrollkeeper said. “We have to find Celestia before –”
“Bookworm!” The two librarians slid to a halt as the hotel manager and the waitress from the restaurant approached them. “Oh, thank goodness you did your research!”
“What do you mean?” Bookworm asked.
“That alicorn,” the waitress said. “I thought we were done for when she showed up, but thanks to you, Gavel Law knew what to do.”
“What did he do?” Scrollkeeper asked.
“Trapped her,” the manager said. “And you’re lucky he did, or you would have been in big trouble for bringing her here. To think he even paid your lodging.”
“Where is he?” Bookworm asked.
“In front of city hall,” the manager said. “Why, is something wrong?”
“Yes,” Bookworm said, breaking into a gallop. “If you want to hear about it, follow me.”
The ponies ran through the streets until they reached city hall. A large crowd had gathered outside, and Gavel Law was giving a speech from a raised platform just outside. A green orb hung in the air beside him, and Scrollkeeper could see Celestia floating inside, unconscious.
“And so, Discord’s plot has been foiled!” Gavel Law was shouting amidst the cheers of the crowd. “Las Pegasus is once again safe from his lies and schemes! I will not rest while Las Pegasus is in danger, and Discord will know he cannot break our spirit!”
Bookworm pushed his way through the crowd while the mayor spoke and reached the platform just as Gavel Law reached the height of his speech. “Gavel Law! Wait!”
“Bookworm?” Gavel Law said. “What’s the matter? Oh, do you want your moment in the spotlight? You’ve certainly earned it! After all, it was you who alerted us to the danger the alicorn posed, and it was you who discovered the solution!”
“No! It’s not what you think!” Bookworm shouted over the cheers of the crowd. “Celestia is not our enemy!”
“Not our enemy?” Gavel Law repeated with a laugh. “Whatever do you mean? The archives made it very clear –”
“The archives were fakes,” Bookworm said. “Their words are meaningless. Please, you must let her go. She’s here to help us.”
“You mean you lied to me?” Gavel Law asked. “Bookworm, how could you?”
“No!” Bookworm said. “I – I just made a mistake.”
“Could you not be making one now?” Gavel Law asked. “How can I trust your word at all?”
“Bookworm is not at fault,” Scrollkeeper shouted, flying above the crowd until he reached the stage. “Only a pony who knows the archives extensively would have detected the discrepancies.”
“I would never have known if Scrollkeeper hadn’t told me,” Bookworm said.
“Him?” Gavel Law said. “Bookworm, this pegasus is the pony who brought the alicorn to our town. I think it is unwise to trust his word.”
“I knew Scrollkeeper when I lived in Canterlot,” Bookworm said. “I would trust him over anypony else to know the difference between a real archive scroll and a fake.”
“The real question is where the forged archived came from,” Scrollkeeper said. “You said they were brought to you from Canterlot. Who brought them?”
“Oh, I didn’t catch his name,” Gavel Law said. “Just a unicorn passing through.”
“Unicorn?” Bookworm said. “You told me he was a pegasus.”
“I did?” Gavel Law said with a frown. “Oh, it must have been the unicorn that stopped by today with the scrolls about the draconequus. I’m sorry, I’m getting a little confused in all this excitement.”
“Would you mind if I took a look at those scrolls?” Scrollkeeper asked. “After all, they may be forgeries, too.”
“I, uh, I’m afraid I’ve misplaced them,” Gavel Law said.
“Misplaced something as valuable as that?” Scrollkeeper said. “That’s quite careless of you, isn’t it?”
“Well, when one has an alicorn to deal with, one tends to forget about things like that,” Gavel Law said.
“Tell me, Gavel Law,” Scrollkeeper said, “are you familiar with the Canterlot serpent seal?”
“N-no,” the mayor said.
“Really?” Scrollkeeper said. “Then would you mind explaining why you placed it on our lodging agreement when you agreed to pay our hotel bill?”
The crowd of ponies began to murmur as Gavel Law took a couple steps back. “Now, look here,” he said. “What gives you the right to come up here and interrogate me? Who do you think you are?”
“I’m just a librarian fighting to free my country,” Scrollkeeper said, “and you’re getting in the way. Now I’ll ask you one more time. Where did you get those scrolls?”
Gavel Law spluttered and took several more steps back. “I – I don’t answer to you!”
“Then answer to us,” Bookworm said. The crowd nodded in agreement. “Where did you get those scrolls?”
“I am the mayor of this town!” Gavel Law shouted as the crowd began to glare at him. “My only interest is the wellbeing of Las Pegasus and the ponies that live here!”
“Was it you?” Bookworm asked. “Did you make them?”
“I am protecting this town!” Gavel Law said. “Discord has sworn to leave us in peace if we turn the alicorn over to him!”
Bookworm’s mouth fell open as gasps arose from the crowd. “You made a deal with him?”
“What else was I supposed to do?” Gavel Law said. “You saw the storm. Las Pegasus will be obliterated if he strikes again!”
“You lied to us!” Bookworm shouted. “You forged archives to make us think she was our enemy!”
“And you think she can help you?” Gavel Law demanded. “Even she admits that her paltry victory is temporary!”
“Her paltry victory is the biggest anypony has ever had against Discord,” Scrollkeeper said. “If the safety of Las Pegasus is truly your concern, let her go.”
“If that alicorn leaves this town, Las Pegasus will be wiped off the map for good,” Gavel Law said.
“Let her go, Gavel Law,” Bookworm said. The crowd murmured in agreement.
“I will not!” Gavel Law shouted. “Listen to me!”
“You lied to us!”
“You’re working for Discord!”
“Enough!” Gavel Law roared. “I may have lied, but it was for your own good!”
“You should have known better than to deceive your fellow ponies,” Scrollkeeper said. “In the end, the truth will always catch up to you.”
A sudden flash of light burst over Scrollkeeper’s head. Everypony looked up and saw a large stone sphere hanging in the air above him. Scrollkeeper stepped aside as the sphere descended to rest on the stage, still surrounded by a glowing white aura. “What is this?” he asked, looking to Bookworm for help, but the blue unicorn looked just as surprised as he was.
Gavel Law took advantage of the distraction and leapt from the stage, hitting the ground at a hard gallop. “Get him!” several ponies yelled as they took off in pursuit.
“We have to get her out of there,” Scrollkeeper said as he walked towards the green orb that held Celestia captive.
“Allow me,” said Bookworm, a red aura bursting around his horn. After a moment, the orb vanished, and Celestia fell to the ground.
“Uhn. Wha…” Celestia shook her head. “Where am I? Where’s Gavel Law?”
“He ran away,” Scrollkeeper said.
“We have to stop him!” Celestia said, leaping to her hooves. “He was going to turn me over to Discord!”
“We know,” Scrollkeeper said. “The Las Pegasus ponies are chasing him as we speak. I’m confident he will face the consequences of his actions.”
“I’m sorry. This was all my fault,” Bookworm said. “Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”
“As a matter of fact, there is,” Scrollkeeper said with a smile. “What can you tell us about the draconequus?”
Bookworm smiled as well. “Plenty. Come with me.”