//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Books Are Perfectly Safe, Please Stop Asking // Story: The Mysterious Book // by Late Empire //------------------------------// It was half past seven in the morning, and Twilight Sparkle was already out of bed. And frowning, too. Even after three cups of coffee. The leaves of the library tree rustled gently in the early-morning breeze, mixing with the steady ticking of her grandfather clock. Dusty rays of sunlight filtered in through the window, playing across the usual book piles, rolls of parchment, and quills that covered Twilight’s room. She narrowed her eyes in concentration, staring with over-caffeinated intensity at the contents of an enormous, gently-wobbling serving tray. After a few minutes, the serving tray spoke. “I think the gold ones are nice...” “Shh! Quiet, Spike. Don’t interrupt.” Gold, silver, or plain porcelain? wondered Twilight, her mind still racing. Gold matches Celestia’s aura, but is it too gaudy? Luna might be upset if I used silver without inviting her... Silence returned. After a few minutes, the tray tilted slightly. “This thing is really heavy. Can you just pick one? I know it’s important, but does it really matter which...” “Of course it matters, Spike! Princess Celestia coming for tea isn’t just about tea!” “Right, but I think it’s mostly about tea, though. Isn’t that what her letter said? Looking forward to a quiet cup of Darjeeling...” Twilight huffed. “I’ve been in Ponyville two years now, and trust me, this is practically an exam. Everything has to be perfect! Not just the tea. Everything. Especially these.” “They’re napkin rings, Twilight. Does the Princess even use those?” “Of course she does! What civilized pony doesn’t use napkins!” “That’s not what I... ow.” Spike gave up and and put the tray down, massaging his back. “Actually, if the Princess spilled something, couldn’t she just blast it with her magic?” Twilight gave him a hard look. Unfortunately he was used to that, and looked right back, grinning. “I’ll bet you a plate of rubies that’s exactly what she...” ”Spike!” “OK, OK. Gold it is, then. I’ll get started on the table setting.” “Thanks, Spike,” sighed Twilight. “And sorry. I just really want this to go well.” Spike rolled his eyes, plucking the winning rings from the tray and giving them a spin on his claws. “Relax. She isn’t even coming until this afternoon.” “Oh my goodness, you’re right! We only have another eight hours to prepare!” The Ponyville Library had never looked so neat and tidy. Books were lined up perfectly straight, spines exactly two inches from the edge of each shelf. The card catalog had been indexed by topic, on the off chance the Princess wanted to read a book on Fishing or Pottery during her visit, and then cross-indexed in case she preferred something by a particular author instead. Every flat surface had been had been dusted to within an inch of its life, and then dusted again for good measure; the living wood of the reading room practically glowed under three coats of Bark Brothers’ Beautiful Tree Treatment. Occasional library patrons were encouraged, in various ways, not to linger. Twilight was just finishing up in the kitchen, trying to figure out the most casual-looking arrangement for a cookbook and tea-towel on the counter, when Spike called out to her. “Hey, I got the pastries and stuff all laid out. But did you want the ‘good’ tea service or the extra-good one?” “The one from the top of the cabinet, Spike,” she said, poking her head back into the dining nook. “The one Shining gave me after I moved to Ponyville.” He reached for the stepstool, but the gleaming silver tea service floated down from the china cabinet and onto the table, riding a cloud of purple magic. Twilight stepped into the room and looked more closely. The tea-tray took place of pride at the center of the table, surrounded by a slightly-excessive collection of muffins, rolls, pastries, crackers, tea-cakes, biscuits, cheese cubes, milk chocolates, dark chocolates, white chocolates, cheese balls, caramels, more crackers, celery sticks, and miniature sandwiches. Along with a stack of tiny plates, and a gleaming arsenal of dessert-related silverware. And napkins, of course; gold-ringed and exquisitely rolled. She circled the table three times, poking at a muffin here, realigning a teacup there. Batting at the lacy white tablecloth, she frowned. “Hmmm.... this looks a little bunched up. Can we try again with the silk one?” Spike explained why that wasn’t possible, using metaphors where appropriate. “Spike! That really isn’t appropriate language for a baby dragon. Anyway, I guess it’ll be OK.” He nodded curtly. Twilight groaned and rested her head on the tablecloth, being careful not to crease it. “I mean, thank you, Spike. Again. You did a great job. I’m just being a crazy pony.” Spike grinned, sampling a suspiciously gem-like hard candy. “Don’t mention it. Can I go to the comic book store now?” “Of course,” said Twilight, looking up. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? I’m sure the Princess would love to see you again. And you’ve been a big help with my weekly reports.” “Nah, that’s OK. I’ll catch up with the Power Ponies, and you two can sip tea and have long boring discussions about magic and friendship.” Spike made a face. “Blarg.” “Blarg? What exactly do you find blarg about friendship, Spike?” He opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by the tinkling of the front-door bell. Applejack and Rarity stepped in, looking around appreciatively. “Girls!” said Twilight, beaming. “I wasn’t expecting you!” “Just thought we’d stop by and see if you needed any help,” said Applejack, tilting her hat. “Before your big event, that is. I guess not, though. Gosh, this place sure does clean up nice.” “And such an impressive setting for tea!” Rarity said, admiring the table. She pursed her lips. “You are, ah, sure about the gold...” “I can change it to silver! I just need to write a letter to Princess Luna!” “No, no, dear,” Rarity replied, tossing her mane. “I’m sure it will be lovely. In any case, wonderful preparation! Not many ponies even own a proper set of dessert flatware. Although the strudel spear really should go to the left of the flan mallet, I believe. According to Canterlot rules, that is.” Thankfully for Twilight’s silverware collection, the mail slot in the front door chose that moment to go flop. Spike picked up the pile from the welcome mat and poked through it. “Hey Twilight, you got another delivery from Creased Page.” He waved a book-shaped package, wrapped in brown paper and twine, and set it on the table with the rest of the mail. Twilight clapped her front hooves together. “Wonderful! That’ll be the new Daring Do. And right on time, too; Rainbow’s been bugging me all week.” “Actually, looks like we got two packages from Creased. Huh. This one’s weird, though.” Twilight’s ears perked up, and she trotted over. “Weird? You mean damaged?” “No, it’s... well, here it is.” Spike held out the second package, and Twilight took it in her magic. The “weird” package was about the same size as the first, maybe slightly slimmer. Sure enough, the label on the front had Creased Page’s crossed-quills logo, and the library address in neat hornwriting. But that was where the similarities ended. Instead of brown paper, this package was wrapped in glimmering, iridescent material, which sparkled in the sunlight from the window. Twilight beamed, bouncing in place. “YES! Yes yes yes!” “A little light reading?” asked Applejack, peering over for a better look. “I’m assuming there is actually a book in there, right? Not just a big pile of magic?” The wrapping was clearly magical, and had an odd sense of depth; motes of power flashed and glowed below the surface as Twilight tilted it back and forth. It was like looking into a fire opal. And instead of twine, the wrapping was sealed by an intricate silver clasp. “Sorry,” said Twilight, blushing. “Yes, it’s a book, but... well, it’s hard to explain. It’s kind of a mystery.” “I do enjoy a good mystery,” said Rarity. “But I get the feeling you don’t mean a Dixon Hoof novel.” “No, sorry, I mean it’s mysterious. And magical, supposedly. Somehow. Creased Page is probably the only book dealer in all of Equestria who could track down a copy.” She waggled her eyebrows conspiratorially. “They say the writer was from another dimension!” Neither Applejack nor Rarity knew quite how to respond to that, so they both settled for “Hmmmm.” “It’s been months! And I finally get to...” The bell tinkled again, very briefly, as a blueish blur entered at high speed; the library door flew all the way open and bounced off the wall. “Rainbow!” shouted Twilight. “Easy on the hardware!” Rainbow Dash didn’t even have the decency to stop grinning, as she hovered unreasonably close to Twilight’s nose. Her saddlebags bulged, promising defiance of the library rules on snacks in the reading areas. “Is. It. Here?” she asked, practically whispering. Twilight kept her frown up as long as possible, before she had to give in and return the grin. “On the table.” The plainly-wrapped package on the table disappeared, replaced by a rainbow trail which led towards the Main Reading Room. Bits of torn brown wrapping paper drifted to the floor in its wake. Twilight sighed and levitated them into a nearby trash can. In the meantime, Rarity had picked up the mysterious book, and was turning it over and over in her magic, admiring its flashing in the sunlight. “Really quite extrordinary! So beautiful. What’s this delightful pattern in silver on the front?” Twilight smiled even wider. “It’s a magical containment rune! Class four, I think.” Rarity froze. “Twilight, darling.” “Yes?” “This book. Which you have just received at your home. In the regular mail. From that insane poetry-trafficking friend of yours. And which I am now holding, less than a foot from my face.” “What about it?” “Is it, in fact, a horribly dangerous book?” Twilight frowned. “Why do ponies keep saying that? Books aren’t dangerous.” Rarity relaxed. “I apologize. I suppose he’s just being thorough, with the rune?” “Oh, no. The magic contained in the book might be very dangerous indeed.” Rarity gave up, levitating it over to Twilight and backing away. “Sounds most interesting, dear.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Again, it’s contained. With what looks like three layers of magical shielding, plus a rune that keeps it from being breached by mistake. And I have all the equipment needed to safely open it, in the lab downstairs. The danger isn’t the point! Think of the possibilities!” She looked at the clock. “Speaking of which, the Princess won’t be here for another, uh, six hours or so. Would you two be interested? If I can find the right translation spell, we might be the first ponies in Equestria to read the story inside! What a beautiful moment to share with two of my very best friends!” Twilight had never looked so eager, grinning broadly and practically vibrating in place. Applejack and Rarity shared a look. “Reckon I really should be getting back to the farm.” “Big order this week, darling.” “Yeah the, uh, lima bean harvest is coming up.” “Custom duck shoes for Fluttershy. Lots of waterproofing.” Twilight’s brilliant smile dropped slightly. “Oh, that’s OK, I guess. I just thought...” There was an uncomfortable silence. Professionally speaking, Rarity was used to that. Silence can be an important part of the sales process, after all. The trick is not to fold; just politely wait a bit, until the customer comes around. Minute after dusty minute ticked painfully by, and finally she began inching back towards the door... Unfortunately, Applejack was a different kind of salespony. “You reckon it’ll be safe, right? I’m not going back to the farm with six legs and two noses?” Twilight nodded vigorously. “I have the very latest in literary safety spells!” “Oh, what the hay. Let’s do it. It actually sounds kind of fun.” “Yes,” said Rarity, smiling tightly. “Fun. Let’s all have fun opening the dangerous magical book together.” Twilight bounced again, and trotted off towards the basement door. “Good luck,” whispered Spike, choosing that moment to make his exit. Rarity and Applejack followed Twilight, keeping their distance from her and the book. “Should we invite Rainbow Dash?” asked Rarity. “Yep, I’ll ask. Bet she can’t tear herself away from Daring Do, though.” Applejack stuck her head into the main reading room as they passed. Sure enough, Rainbow Dash lay sprawled on the window seat of the Ponyville Library Book Nook, surrounded by candy wrappers and a small forest of Blueberry Blast! soda cans. She turned a page with her nose, reading intently. “Dash, Twilight’s gonna show us a mystery book. Sorry, I mean a mysterious book. You interested?” Dash grunted and flipped her wings in an irritated way. Applejack chuckled. “Suit yourself. Now listen, if we get sucked into another dimension or something, y’all have to come rescue us, OK?” Twilight rolled her eyes again as she opened the basement door. “Really, Applejack. Reading is a very safe activity! Safer than crossing the street. And Rainbow, please clean up a little. Princess Celestia will be here in a few hours.”