Twilight opened her eyes. It was dark, the room around her was nearly pitch black. She and Spike let go of each other and looked around. There were no bookshelves but it roughly resembled the same room they were in, the wing of the Canterlot Library. Twilight lit her horn with a light spell to help them see.
"Did it work?" Spike asked. Twilight trotted over to the window, the same one they'd came in. Or would come in, dependong your interpretation of time. She looked out.
"It must've worked Spike. Come look!" Spike shuffled over to the window and stuck his head out. The city of Canterlot had indeed changed. Most of the buildings were missing, many were houses and cottages similar to the ones in Ponyville, only of an older design. There no paved roads and very few buildings made of stone. The only thing that did look the same was Canterlot Castle which still dominated the landscape. Twilight considered flying momentarily and then thought better of it. She and Spike took the stairs to leave the library.
Twilight and Spike walked out of the entrance to the library. They stopped past a sign out front. Future Wing of The Canterlot Library was posted in large letters on the face.
Spike looked at the sign. "It looks like it worked Twilight. What do we do now?"
"Now we find Star Swirl." Twilight said in a determined voice. Her tone conveyed a resolute confidence with the slightest betrayal of underlying anger. Spike followed in an ever-so-slightly cautious manner.
The two of the walked into town. Old Canterlot honestly resembled the Ponyville Twilight knew of in her time. It was like one of Twilight's history books come to life. The ponies themselves had older-style cutie marks, even wore clothes. The sight of an alicorn and a dragon walking together drew several looks from passersby.
"Uh, hey Twilight?" Spike asked.
Twilight was so enamoured with the surroundings she barely noticed anything else. "Yes Spike?"
"Why is everypony... staring at us?"
"They must not be used to seeing a dragon or an alicorn just walking the streets together." Twilight surmised.
"Or it could be because we're not wearing any clothes." Spike thought. Twilight looked down at herself. She'd left her gown at home; although she was a princess, she had no intention of wearing the outfit on a day-to-day basis.
"I think we'll be all right Spike. We'll just find Star Swirl, fix this problem and be back in our own time before sundown." Twilight said confidently. They turned a corner and walked down the street. Twilight almost recognized the road despite the change in scenery.
A young lavender unicorn just a shade lighter than Twilight stood on the corner with a satchel full of folded newspapers. "Extrey! Extrey! Read all about it! Crystal Empire disappears! Read all about it!" he called out as Twilight approached.
"Paper ma'am? Only two bits." the unicorn asked. His horn glowed a light red and a roll levitated from his bag in front of them.
Twilight quickly realized she was broke. "Uh, I'm sorry, I don't have two bits." she apologized to him.
"Eh, no sweat. This one's on the house." he told her.
"Thank you very much!" Twilight said as she grabbed the newspaper. Unfolding it, she read the headlines. "The Canterlot Chronicle" showed the date. It matched the same one Twilight had found at the back of Star Swirl's spell book. Something was important about this date it seemed. The main article was about the Crystal Empire disappearing. That wasn't news to Twilight; she knew the Empire would be fine. When it reappeared in a few centuries anyway.
"Wrote, printed and published this myself." the unicorn said. "Scary thought huh? Whole big place like the Crystal Empire just vanishing over night."
"Very scary indeed." Twilight remarked as she studied the newspaper. "You wouldn't by chance know where a Star Swirl the Bearded is would you?"
The unicorn tapped his chin with his hoof. "Not a name I've heard around here. You might want to try Ponyville." he suggested.
"That might be a good idea. Thanks again." Twilight said to the unicorn. She levitated the newspaper to Spike for him to take a look at as they started walking again. Spike looked at the bottom of the Crystal Empire article. By Dawn Sparkle was written at the bottom. Spike turned to the unicorn on the corner again.
"Spike! Let's get going!" Twilight called. Spike gave his head a slight shake and ran up to follow Twilight.