//------------------------------// // The Vacation: Day 2 Part 4 // Story: The Overworked Alicorn // by BreakDown //------------------------------// The Vacation Day 2: The Reveal... -- Twilight wandered into Sugar Cube Corner quietly, while she wasn't quite as worried as before she was still more than a little concerned over the fact Celestia still hadn't answered her letter. She knew that the princess had a lot to do on most days, but she was usually very prompt with replies to letters of importance. And last time she checked, a strange mare knowing things she shouldn't was rather important. "I really hope the princess is alright." Twilight murmured under her breath while approaching the counter of Sugar Cuber Corner. She knew it was rather silly to worry over Celestia, whom had been alive far longer than any pony and was perhaps the most powerful force in Equestria. But then again, she had seen what The Changeling Queen had managed to do to her princess, which suggested Celestia was a bit... err... out of practice at least when it came to combat. So deep in her thoughts was the lavender mare that she didn't even notice when she stopped in front of the counter, her pink coated friend grinning widely. "Hiya Twilight!!" Pinkie Pie declared loudly, startling Twilight and nearly causing her to jump out of her fur. Bringing a hoof to her chest and taking in several deep breaths, the lavender unicorn fixed her spunky friend with a stern look. "Pinkie Pie don't scare me like that!" Twilight admonished through shaky breaths, still holding her chest while the pink party pony smiled cheerfully. "Okie Dokie Loki Twilight, but what brings you my way?" Pinkie questioned for a moment before tapping her chin and grinning widely once more. "Ooh! I bet your here for a snack!" She declared with a nod of her head while Twilight sighed and let Pinkie go on a tangent. Sometimes it was just better to let the pony get it out of her system... "How about a cupcake, or a couple of cookies, or a cake, or any other sweet that starts with a C." Pinkie offered before tapping her chin once more. "Actually, you could totally get just about any kind of sweet today, we've kind of got a surplus seeing as Faustie and I kind of got a little carried away with the baking this morning." Pinkie admitted with a shrug and had Twilight's immediate attention at the mention of Faust. While she hoped it was merely a coincidental thing, a strange mare who knows a bit too much about AJ just happening to meet Pinkie Pie as well... actually with the ponies outgoing personality that wasn't so unusual, but it was still a little suspicious. "Wait, Pinkie do you mean to tell me that you've met a mare named Faust?" Twilight questioned seriously and the pink party pony nodded her head with a happy smile. "Yeah! I met her the other day and got to do my welcome wagon thing, although it's kind of odd how she knew I patented my Welcome Song." Pinkie noted mostly to herself and Twilight raised a brow. "Wait, why did you patent that song?" Twilight asked with a strange look and the pink party pony rolled her eyes. "Silly filly, I patent all my songs!" Pinkie stated and then glanced around shiftily before leaning towards Twilight and pulling her close to whisper in her ear. "Because it seems like every pony always starts singing my songs after a while. I mean, have you noticed how there's like a dozen versions of my smile song?" Pinkie questioned and glanced around as if looking for the song thief... "Uhhh... okay..." Twilight replied, though admittedly felt even more confused, she'd honestly never heard any pony singing any of pinkie's songs before. "Anyways, Faustie is really cool Twilight and you should totally meet her!" Pinkie pie declared before rubbing her chin. "In fact you two are a lot alike, she's really smart, kind of high strung, seems really confused by the crazy things I do, and she can do wicked cool magic, it's all red and she made mops come to life and such!" Pinkie replied in one breath, and then tapped the counter and stared at Twilight as she realized something she hadn't noticed before. "Actually now that I think about it, you kind of look like her too... but she's way skinnier and a little taller. No offense." Pinkie added and Twilight sighed and rubbed the side of her head with a hoof. Pinkie was honestly a good friend, you could always depend on her when you needed her, but... well... Rainbow Dash had said it best, she was just so random... "Alright Pinkie, I asked if you met her, not for her lifes story." Twilight stated rather blandly, a neutral expression on her face while Pinkie happily nodded her head. "I know that silly, but I thought it was a good opportunity for some exposition." Pinkie replied, confusing Twilight yet again with her spontaneous bouts of nonsense. "Besides, it really is weird how she knew I patent my songs. But then again, she is an Archivist." Pinkie mused aloud with a thoughtful tone, her lavender friend releasing a breath. "Yes, I'll agree that is kind of weird, anyways, I was actually wondering if you noticed anything else off about Faust?" Twilight questioned of the pink party pony, and hoped that her friend wouldn't just tell her random facts about the mare. The pink party pony hummed for a moment with frown as she thought back to her interactions with Faust. "Well, she did kind of have this weird habit of just blurting things out about Ponies. It really freaked out Fluttershy when we met up with her at the Spa. But then again, Rarity thought that it was their reputations preceding them or something." Pinkie replied and a frown crossed Twilight's lips. One friend was coincidence, two was happenstance, but four of her friends? Something had to be up with Faust, there was just no way she could just happen to be meeting her friends... right? "I see... anything else?" Twilight questioned and Pinkie clicked her tongue and tapped a hoof on the counter. "Well, she's really good at storytelling, and I think she knows all kinds of old stories. Like have you ever heard of some pony named "Twilight The Wish Granter" who talked to the moon before?" Pinkie asked the lavender mare curiously and Twilight nodded her head. "Of Course, Twilight The Wish Granter is a really old story, I found a written version of it in the Canterlot Library when I was filly. Although I think the idea of a filly being able to grant wishes as silly, it's still a good story." Twilight replied, though omitted the fact she used to pretend she was Twilight when she stared at the stars at night... what? She was still just a filly who loved the stars, that story had another filly who she could relate to at the time! Wait a second. "Did you say she talked to the moon?" Twilight questioned of the pink party pony with a frown and Pinkie looked at her strangely. "Well duh, Faustie was saying that the moon spoke to Twilight then there was a flash or something and the stars shined really bright and she made her wish." Pinkie explained with a roll of her eyes and Twilight frowned deeply as she thought back to the version she had read. "So there was no mention of Luna in that story at all?" Twilight asked and Pinkie gave her a strange look. "Twilight, Faustie said the story comes from before Celestia and Discord, why would Luna be there?" Pinkie asked and Twilight nodded her head and rubbed her chin. "Because one of the version I read as a filly had Luna in it... I think." Twilight replied and then hummed lightly and made a note to look for that story when she got back to the library. "Yeah, well anyways, she also said she took care of two fillies a long time ago, but she barely looks older than me!" Pinkie added with a wide grin and Twilight actually rolled her eyes. "Actually, it's been scientifically proven that most advanced Magic users will retain their youth and vitality much longer than normal Pinkie. Given what you said about her magic being so powerful, it's really no surprise that she still looks young." Twilight admitted and Pinkie blinked before scratching her head. "Really? Huh... she said it was from keeping in shape and eating well." Pinkie noted and Twilight actually smiled. "While magic keeps us looking young, if she's also taken care of her body I wouldn't be surprised if she looks like me and is actually in her late fifties. Having both high level magic and a healthy and active life style guarantees a pony will live a very long life." Twilight replied with a nod of her head, then shook her head and blew a breath into her bangs. "But that's not the point, where is Faust right now Pinkie?" Twilight asked her friend and Pinkie grinned. "Rarity offered to make Faustie an outfit, apparently she's really out of style or something." Pinkie replied and Twilight idly nodded her head. If any of Faust's story about being an archivist, not to mention a mother and a story teller, were true then it made sense that she didn't get out much. "I see..." Twilight murmured quietly and made a mental note to check in on this "Faust" mare herself... then glanced outside and noticed that the sun was going down. "Strange, I thought we had a couple more minutes before nighttime." Twilight noted before shaking her head and looking back to Pinkie. "Anyways Pinkie, I'd actually like a couple of cupcakes, one with gemstones for Spike." Twilight admitted and the pink party pony grinned and gave her friend a quick salute. "A couple of cupcakes, one with pretty rocks coming right up!" Pinkie declared and ducked to the side to gather her friends desired dessert. As she did Twilight looked out the window once more and let out a sigh. "I'll head over to Rarity's early tomorrow and check up on this Faust." Twilight decided with a nod of her head, though hoped that she was just over thinking things and worrying about noting. "I really hope it's all just a series of crazy coincidences, I don't think I can stand another evil queen or crazy mad pony bent on destroying Equestria." The lavender unicorn groaned out while rubbing her head tiredly, after all, it seemed like something was bent on her destruction every other week. -- Celestia and Luna had seen a great deal in their admittedly extended lifetimes. From insane beings of unlimited power to evil pony kings, from possessed suits of armor to the undead walking. They had seen more than most other ponies could ever claim. Even Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements of Harmony had yet to truly see as much as they had. And yet even with all they had seen, all they had done, and all that had occurred in their lives, they were still surprised to see a character from a book come to life. Case in point, Daring Do actually standing in front of them. "How... how are you here?" Celestia liked to think that she was normally quite calm and collected, but in all honesty, today had been one surprise after another. So if she seemed a bit out of sorts after it all, she really hoped she could be forgiven for it... "Shouldn't you introduce yourselves before asking me questions?" Daring quipped with a grin, one brow arched upwards as she leaned towards them. Both royal pony sisters looked at the khaki coated mare in no small amount of surprise, then to one another as they realized she was correct. Celestia was the first to recover and so took a moment to clear her throat before properly introducing herself. "I am Princess Celestia, regent of the sun and co-ruler of Equestria." The solar princess stated plainly and yet Daring didn't seem fazed in the least. "And I am Princess Luna, regent of the moon and co-ruler of Equestria." Luna stated while openly staring at the story book character who had somehow come to life. With the introductions complete Daring grinned at both Princesses and sat down. "Alright, much better. As I said I'm Daring Do, but as for how I got here..." The mare started and thought back to how she had entered the tower. "I walked through the golden door." Daring replied with a shrug, and then trotted over to a table with a series of maps and started to sift through them. Feeling that her explanation was rather... lacking, Luna marched over to the table and slammed her hoof. "Thou art saying that thee came by way of a door, but 'tis impossible! Thou art from a book, how could thou simply walk through a door!" Luna growled in the old tongue, which got an amused smirk from the khaki coated mare she was trying to glare at. Feeling more and more annoyed by how the mare was acting, Luna snorted and leaned forward, nose to nose with the story book mare. "Besides we hath looked within the door of which thou speak, it led to nothing!" Luna stated plainly while glaring into the amused eyes of the strange story book mare. Celestia watched Daring, she wasn't really sure what to expect from the mare. Luna was known for being quite blunt even a thousand years before, while Celestia herself was a tad more subtle. Regardless of that, Daring Do was strange and she honestly didn't know what to expect from her. Unlike most ponies she acted like they were normal, she didn't bow or scrape or act like they were important. It was actually a breath of fresh air all things considered, but then again what little she knew of "Daring Do" seemed to paint the mare as rather adventurous and bold. Truly, she was not unlike Twilight's own Pegasus friend, Rainbow Dash in more than just superficial appearance. However that was merely an observation, and while she wondered what Daring would do with Luna in her face, what happened was certainly not what she expected. The khaki coated mare's smirk never left her face, not even as she licked Luna's snout. Luna's reaction was far more animated, and admittedly much more amusing than Celestia would care to admit. She suddenly let out a sound not unlike a squeak that wanted to be a yelp and jumped back from the mare. There was a noticeably deep blush visible on her cheeks as she looked to the treasure hunter with wide eyes. Daring was no less amusing in her reaction as she sputtered for a moment then fell over backwards holding her sides and laughing uproariously. Luna's eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared as she glared at the laughing mare, and then turned the glare on Celestia as she tried to hide her own giggles behind a hoof. The Lunar Princess snorted furiously, glaring from her sister to the treasure hunter before stomping a hoof. "Tis not funny!" She exclaimed angrily and Daring took a moment to sit up with a wide grin on her face. "Yes it is." She stated quite plainly and then fell back over and continued her laughter. Celestia rolled her eyes and shook her head, wiped a stray tear from her eye and trotted over to her fuming sister. Luna glared at her as she approached, but she smiled cheerfully and nuzzled the younger alicorn. "Calm down Luna, she just wants to get a rise out of you." Celestia told her seriously and Luna snorted while glaring at the still laughing Treasure Hunter. Daring was still laughing, she stomped a hoof into the ground even as she tried desperately to calm down. "And it worked..." Luna grumbled moodily and Celestia rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes it did." The solar princess agreed with a nod of her head, then trotted over to the still laughing story book character. The solar princess shook her head for a moment and then lifted the Pegasus into the air with her magic, Daring releasing a yelp as she was brought into the air. "Hey! Lemme down!" The khaki coated mare shouted and flailed her limbs in a futile attempt to free herself over the solar princesses grasp. Raising a brow for only a moment, Celestia instead hummed and rubbed at her chin with a thoughtful frown. The princess considered it for far longer than was necessary, before she then looked to the treasure hunter with a deceptively pleasant smile. "No. I don't think I will." Celestia finally replied and Daring scowled down at the princess and crossed her forelimbs over her chest with a pout. "Alright what do you want?" Daring questioned with a decidedly angry tone. "I want you to answer my sisters question, how did you get here through the Golden Door?" Celestia questioned plainly, her eyes hardening as she gazed at the treasure hunter. "We opened it and found nothing inside, so how could you have come out of it?" Celestia continued while staring at the story-book character, Daring merely bringing a hoof to her face and letting out a groan. "Oh c'mon, you two seriously don't know about the Golden Door?" Daring questioned irritably and the sisters looked at her with confused expressions. Bringing a hoof up to her face and dragging it down it's length, the mare gave both princesses a flat look. "You two aren't very bright... are you?" The treasure hunter questioned and Luna shifted into a mist and popped back into place in her face. "Thy disrespect for our sister and I is becoming most tiresome whelp!" Luna growled darkly while keeping a distance from the odd mare, thought the treasure hunter seemed rather bored. "Doth thee have nothing to say for thyself?" Luna demanded and Daring let out a sigh and glanced down to Celestia. "Is she always so..." Daring started and halted for a moment as she tried to find the right word. "Moody?" She finally settled on and Celestia silently nodded her head. "Jeez, and here I thought you immortals knew how to lighten up..." Daring muttered to herself only for Luna to grab her by her shirt and glare into her eyes. "No more games! We grow weary of thy foalish actions, we refuse to allow you to continue this foalishness, and demand a proper answer from thee this instant!" Luna roared into Daring's face with the royal canterlot voice, Celestia winced as she saw the treasure hunters eyes twitch and her hooves shoot to her ears. The Pegasus mare seemed to shake for a moment, a look of pain on her face before shaking her head and glaring heatedly at Luna in return. "OW! What the bucking hay princess!" Daring shouted at the alicorn with a fire in her eyes, Celestia bringing a hoof to her face as the two got into one each others face. "Does thy insolence truly know no bounds!" Luna demanded of the treasure hunter, who snorted and snarled. "Well excuse me for not going out of my way to bow before you!" Daring shouted in return and Luna scoffed. "Nary did we demand that thee bow! We only asked for an answer, and though hath only given us lip and insolence!" Luna returned and Daring growled in her throat. "I told you already! I came through the bucking Golden Door! What part of that didn't you follow?!" Daring demanded of the princess as they were now literally in each others face. Celestia mentally sighed and shook her head at the spectacle, and she couldn't help but wonder how this would all pan out. It was true that they didn't have many ponies who would act like Daring around them, but honestly, Celestia actually found it quite refreshing from the usual yes ponies she met. Luna on the other hand, well even before Nightmare Moon, she was never one to tolerate foalishness... "Doth thee truly think us a foal? We hath told thee already that thy words ring false! We have seen the Golden Door and there is nothing within or beyond it!" Luna shouted at Daring furiously though thankfully had lowered the decibels away from using the Royal Canterlot Voice. Daring growled low in her throat, he breaths coming in deep pants as she glared at Luna for a moment longer before looking to the sky. "I swear! Are all Alicorns this much of a pain?" The treasure hunter questioned of heavens, and then looked back to Luna with a scowl on her face. "Look! Listen to me cause I am not repeating myself. The Golden Door is not just a door, and of course you didn't see anything in there, it's a gateway between Reality and The Realm of Imagination! When it's opened it allows beings of imagination to wander out. One of you two probably left the thing open and that's how I came out!" Daring shouted in Luna's face, the lunar princess growling at her darkly. "So you are aware you aren't real?" Celestia's voice broke the glaring / growling between the two and Daring looked down to the solar princess. "Uh duh. Of course I'm not real!" Daring shouted before a thought occurred to her and she shook her head. "Wait, scratch that, I'm real right now, but I know that I don't really exist." Daring corrected her earlier statement while Luna returned to the ground with a scowl. "Anyways, it was kind of obvious since I walked from the back of the Golden Door to the front. That means I walked out of the realm of imagination so I'm technically just a figment of some ponies imagination or something." Daring explained and watched Celestia who frowned and tilted her head with a confused look on her face. "And that doesn't bother you? Not even a little?" Celestia questioned of the treasure hunter seriously, if she found out she wasn't real, she didn't think she'd take it quite as well as Daring was... especially since the mare started laughing again. "Okay seriously, what should I do? Be all sad and mopey about it or something? Please, that's totally not my thing. I'm Daring Do!" The mare declared quite proudly and Celestia gave her that much. "Sure I only exist in the imagination, but think about it, that means that tons of pony's know me, not only that, but so long as there are books about me, I'm always going to be around!" Daring replied with a wide grin, and then glanced down and looked to Celestia with a flat look. "So could you maybe let me down now?" The treasure hunter questioned seriously and Luna snorted. "Thou should remain aloft forever for thy insolence!" The lunar princess stated plainly, which got Daring to glare at her once more while Celestia face hoofed. The Solar Princess hated to admit it, but Luna was acting just as Foalish as Daring, and it was about time that she put her hoof down and put a stop to it. "Alright that's enough from both of you!" Celestia stated sternly, glaring at both Daring and her sister heatedly. "Now then, I understand that you got off on the wrong hoof, but arguing with one another won't help any of us." The solar princess stated with a nod of her head, Luna and Daring taking a moment to glare at one another. Seeing that it was unlikely either were going to listen to her, Celestia groaned internally before lowering Daring back to her hooves. "Anyways, miss Do, did you close the Golden Door after you got out?" Celestia questioned and Daring rolled her eyes and straightened her shirt. "Of course I did, I'd have to be a total idiot to leave it hanging open, there's an evil dragon trapped in there you know." The khaki mare stated while brushing herself off, Luna and Celestia looking to one another and the back to the treasure hunter. "There's an Evil Dragon in the Golden Door?" Celestia and Luna both questioned and the khaki coated mare stared at them and then brought a hoof to her face. "Seriously, why am I the only one who knows this?" The treasure hunter grumbled under her breath and then sighed. "Yes, there's a dragon in there, when the door was first made a powerful Magic-User forced an evil Dragon into it. It was trapped for a thousand years because inside it couldn't age or even change, so when it finally got out and tried to destroy everything, but it was finally stopped by the ponies of Dream Valley and trapped inside of it again." Daring explained before frowning and tapped her chin thoughtfully. Celestia on the other hand felt her eyes widen and her body tremble. The thought of a dragon getting out of the door was bad enough, but if that dragon got out of the door it would also run rampant in Faust's home. Not only that but it would be her fault, well her's and Luna's, but mostly her's as she was the one who had wanted to open the door in the first place. The solar princess looked over to her sister, and the distressed look on Luna's face clearly said that she had similar thoughts. "Yes well, as interesting as that is, I think we should go and make sure the door is closed." Celestia said a bit too quickly and then galloped off in the direction of the door. Luna looked at Daring for only a moment, before biting her lip and turned in the direction Celestia had galloped off. "Er yes, indeed! Sister wait for me!" The Lunar mare cried out as she galloped after the older mare, while Daring rolled her eyes and trotted over to the maps she'd been looking over. Shaking her head for a moment the mare hopped onto a cushion and moved a few of the maps around. "Finally. Now maybe I can get something interesting done." Daring muttered to herself before she remembered something else about The Golden Door. "Wait a second, isn't there a creature called "The Nightmare" trapped in there as well?" Daring wondered quietly, then shrugged her shoulders and got back to her maps. "Eh even if there is, those two can probably take care of it." She stated and opened a map that showed the way to the lost city of The Sea Ponies... -- Faust grunted and winced as Rarity tightened a saddle that she believed would suit the mare. Admittedly her search for something that suited the off-white mare had yielded her very little success. In fact, Rarity was trying harder and harder to find something, anything, that would look good on the older mare. Once the saddle was cinched shut Rarity took a step back to look at her work, only to growl and stomp her hoof into the ground. "This doesn't make any sense!" The fashionista cried and rushed over to look through all of her other designs. "No..." She said and looked to another. "No." She stated and grit her teeth, eye twitching dangerously. "No!" She shouted and tossed the designs into the air. Bringing her hooves down she took several deep calming breaths and turned back to Faust. She idly removed the saddle with her magic, Faust letting a breath out that she'd been forced to hold in. "I've worked with hundreds of ponies, I've mastered all forms of fashion and design, but nothing feels right on you!" The fashionista declared and Faust smiled sheepishly. "Well, at least you tried." Faust replied while stretching her wings and then leaned forward and felt her shoulders pop. She hadn't held that still in years, not since that one time Majesty had a pony paint their portrait together. Finished stretching the off-white mare glanced to Rarity to see she was still going over designs. "Besides, I don't get out much so I've never had much need for dresses." The in-disguise alicorn reminded and the fashion pony glanced her way with a stiff frown. "Yes Darling I understood, but it never hurts to be prepared for a formal occasion." Rarity stated with a nod of her head and then tossed another design to the side. "I mean what if one of your daughters were to be married, would you not wish to have something nice to wear to their wedding?" Rarity stated as she trotted over to the side and started looking over materials and colors in an attempt for inspiration. Faust on the other hand raised a brow and tried to imagine Celestia or Luna getting married... and then rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Somehow I doubt it, they aren't exactly ones for much ceremony when it comes to such intimate relationships." The off-white mare replied honestly, as the two alicorns had on occasion had suitors. Of course between them Celestia was probably the only one to go beyond simple courting, but even then she had kept that a secret. "Of course when you have access to her diary it's not much of a secret..." Faust whispered to herself, only slightly guilty that she'd read through the solar diarch's personal thoughts. "Be that as it may miss Faust, it's also a matter of pride. I take great pride in my work and in my talent for bringing out the beauty in any pony." Rarity stated and then halted, her eyes wide as she turned to Faust. "If I can't find something that looks good on you then my talent is pointless!" Rarity exclaimed with a shudder and trotted off to find several accessories and looked them over. Faust on the other hoof suddenly face hoofed and groaned at a sudden realization. Rarity's special talent was not for finding gems, unlike the common misconception, it was for finding the true inner beauty in anything and bringing it to the surface. Even a rock had such inner beauty, as the story of how she got her cutie-mark could attest. However, the problem with this was that Faust was in disguise, the reason Rarity couldn't find anything that looked right on her was probably because she wasn't being herself, or any real pony for that matter. "Sweet Celestia why can't I find anything?" The fashion pony all but demanded and slumped to the floor with a pout. Feeling more than just a little uncomfortable, the off-white mare approached Rarity and sat down next to her. Idly placing a hoof on her shoulder, the red maned mare offered a weak smile to the distraught fashionista. "Rarity, I really appreciate all the work you've been doing... but maybe you should take a breather." Faust urged while mentally trying to think of a way to get around letting Rarity make her an outfit. "At least for a little while." Faust added and Rarity sighed tiredly and nodded her head in agreement. "Yes I think perhaps a bit of a break would help with the creative juices..." The white unicorn replied and released a sigh before looking back to Faust. "Um, if it's not too much trouble Miss Faust, but would you happen to have any more stories?" Rarity questioned of the older mare with a sheepish look on her face. "What kind?" Faust asked the far younger mare and Rarity hummed lightly and considered. She considered it for roughly a minute before idly nodding her head. "Perhaps something about one of the princesses." Rarity suggested and a slight frown crossed Faust's features and she rubbed at her chin. "Which Princess? I mean honestly there are just so many of them, there's Luna, Celestia, Cadence, Platinum, Primrose, Royal Blue, Serena, Sparkle, Starburst, Tiffany, Majesty..." Faust listed off from memory but was halted by Rarity's hoof as she looked at her in shock. "Princess... SPARKLE?" The white mare all but demanded and Faust nodded her head, then pulled the white unicorn's hoof from her mouth. "Yeah, she was one of the six original princesses of the land. The six ponies maintained the balance of Equestria's magic using six powerful wands. Princess Sparkle was a lavender Unicorn in charge of plants." Faust explained while Rarity sat back for a moment and then shook her head. "Wait a moment darling, there were Six of them?" Rarity questioned seriously and Faust nodded her head. "Two Unicorns, Two Pegasi, and Two Earth-Ponies." The disguised alicorn affirmed and Rarity hummed and rubbed at her chin as a thought occurred to her. Perhaps it was a bit of a long shot, but it seemed a bit coincidental that there were once six ponies with six special artifacts that kept the balance of magic. "So where those wands perhaps the original Elements of Harmony?" Rarity questioned and Faust grinned nervously and then shook her head. "No, in fact the princess Ponies were most well known for fighting one another and arguing over who should be queen at the time. It was because of that in fighting that Princess Majesty rose to prominence and protected all the ponies." Faust replied with a bit of a half truth, admittedly the wands were not the original elements... they were just a part of them really, the Rainbow of Light and a few other artifacts they had found over the years had been combined into the true elements. "Oh I see... well could you tell me of this Princess Majesty then?" Rarity questioned and saw a pained look on Faust's face as she sighed but nodded her head. Closing her eyes Faust used her magic, the entire room was instantly covered in shadow and Rarity watched as a brilliant red light formed before them. The light then became a red square with black silhouettes forming into a landscape and a tall looking unicorn mare... "Long ago, long before Equestria was even a dream, before the tribes were at war, in the era of the six Princess Ponies, their lived a magical unicorn, one named Majesty." Faust began and the unicorn silhouette began to trot along the landscape Faust's magic had made. "Majesty was a pony of great power, while others only had a bit of magic which precluded to their special talent, Majesty knew all magic and could conjure any spell she desired." Faust continued while Rarity looked thoroughly surprised as it seemed yet another ancient mare resembled her friend Twilight to some extent. "For years Majesty traveled, the land was rife with monsters and fear, The Princess Ponies too busy feuding with one another to hear their subjects pleas." Faust's story continued as a silhouette of six arguing mare's in rather interesting hats showed up, Rarity frowning slightly with a shake of her head. "Eventually, Majesty found a place free of monsters and free of hate, a place of peace which she named, Dream Valley." Faust continued in barely a whisper, her head bowed and her bangs hiding her eyes in shadow. "In that place of peace Majesty used her great power and built a sturdy castle from which she could live in peace. Within the walls of her castle she continued to study magic, and grow stronger and more powerful with each passing day." Faust continued to explain as the silhouettes changed, showing each development and the unicorn mare entering her castle and reading a book. "She studied and grew, and each day was the same, that is until one cold rainy day, something unexpected happened." Faust stated and a small smile came across her face as the silhouettes of several ponies appeared at the castle's drawbridge. "Please oh please, we don't mean to intrude, but it's so cold out here and we're all so scared won't you please help us out from the cold?" came the cry from the scared little ponies who begged to enter the castle. Majesty was reluctant to help them, she was warm and safe herself, why should she help strange ponies she didn't know?" Faust questioned quietly and her magic showed the unicorn mare look down for a moment, before her horn gave a soft glow and lowered the draw bridge for the other little ponies. "Because what good is it to be safe and warm, if others are cold and scared?" Faust replied with a smile as the little ponies ran into the castle and were warmed by a sudden flame conjured by the unicorn. "Be safe and warm, My Little Ponies, you may stay here as long as you like." Majesty told the little ponies and offered them to with her have tea. "Here you go, please drink it up, warm up and be well." Faust continued with a small smile while Rarity smiled as well seeing the black silhouette offer the drink to help warm the cold ponies. "Majesty took in each pony, and in exchange they offered her friendship and love." Faust noted while never looking to rarity as the little ponies seemed to dance around Majesty. The scene then changed, showing the five ponies building a few other buildings around the castle, a stable and a few more that Rarity couldn't quite place. "Not long after when the sun shined upon the land, Majesty's little ponies scampered outside. They explored and they played, but never did they stray, from the kind mare who had given them a home." Faust continued and the scene changed once more to a star filled night and even more ponies at her door. "And soon again, more ponies did come, seeking a place to stay." Faust noted and Rarity continued to watch as Majesty lowered the bridge once more for the little ponies. "Please oh please, we don't mean to intrude, please let us stay for but a day, we're so tired and hungry, and the trolls won't let us rest." The ponies begged, and Majesty did smile and usher them inside. "Come My Little Ponies, inside you will be safe and warm, to you my cupboards are laid bare, think nothing of strife and leave the trolls to me." The unicorn bade before she made her way out into the storm." Faust continued with Rarity leaning forward as the silhouette of the unicorn marched into a storm, several creatures twice her size soon standing against her. "Leave now!" Majesty cried to the trolls and they only laughed. "Why should we go little mare? Our playthings are inside, and it's warm and with food, within we'll happily make do, and you ponies shall not be spared!" Faust continued and a scowl slowly spread across her lips while Rarity saw the "Trolls" lift large clubs. "I warn you right now..." Majesty said sternly, her eyes cold like ice. "If you threaten my ponies, there will be no remorse. Leave now, while you still can." Faust uttered and she felt Rarity shiver as the trolls were shown to laugh. "They laughed and guffawed, what did they have to fear, she was but a simple measly little mare. Without fear or regret the trolls did charge, and yet... their bravado brought them defeat. For with a twirl of her horn and a flash of light, Majesty's magic was then released. As one did they stop, held forever silent and still, flesh to bark and blood to sap, where once were fierce trolls... now a humble forest, did grow." Faust uttered softly the scene showing twisted trees with snarls and sneers, ones that Rarity recognized quite well. "The Everfree forest..." Rarity whispered with a shudder while the scene continued, Majesty twirling her horn in the air again. "With another twirl of her horn, and even those trees were gone, banished to parts and places unknown. Her job done and her ponies safe, Majesty then returned home." Faust continued as the silhouette of Majesty made her way from the field and went back inside her castle. Inside the ponies quickly surrounded the mare and seemed to dance once more, their numbers now doubled. "Within Majesty was beset by questions, and so put the ponies minds at ease." Faust continued and then took a deep breath. "All is well My Little Ponies eat now and rest, the trolls shall trouble you no more." Majesty said warmly, and brought tea and cakes for the ponies to eat. Now happy and fed, these new ponies would also offer friendship and love. And like those before when it was sunny and warm they never went away, from the mare who protected them from harm." The off-white mare continued with a soft smile and the scene changed once more, showing a calm quiet night with the little ponies sleeping in their homes, and Majesty reading in her castle. "Many many nights later, when all was quiet and at rest, when Majesty rested by a fire reading once more. A soft knock came from the draw bridge." Faust almost whispered while Rarity watched the silhouette of Majesty make her way to the draw bridge, and lower it. "Outside this time was not many ponies nor besetting trolls, no this time was only a tiny little filly who looked oh so alone, whose horn was broken in half, who was thin and weak from hunger, and shaking from the cold." Faust actually choked for a moment and then wiped at her eye while Rarity looked to her in concern. "Please oh please, I don't mean to intrude I ask only..." Faust started before taking a calming breath and a small ghost of a smile crossed her lips. "To not be alone." The filly did plead so softly it was barely heard. Yet Majesty heard and with a smile she scooped the filly in hoof. "Oh little one, do not fear, I will keep you safe and near. I'll teach the things you must know. And then when strong enough, I'll help you find friends." Faust stated with tears in her eyes while Rarity smiled softly as Majesty carried the little filly inside. The scene changed once more, showing a plethora of monsters and ponies passing by. "For years Majesty lived in that castle, always protecting her ponies. Monsters were vanquished, ponies were saved, and new friends were made. In all that time her magic grew and she made many ways to always keep an eye on them, a magic mirror and a crystal ball that could see all ends of her home. Soon Dream Valley was no longer just a place... but a kingdom all its own." Faust stated with what could only be pride and joy in her voice as Rarity watched on. "In their time together they all learned so much, each type of pony became special and unique. The Pegasi mastered an art of music which could call forth a storm. The Unicorns learned magic and many spells. And the Earth Ponies, sturdy and strong, learned to grow food for all." Faust said happily while Rarity smiled and could imagine that to be the true beginning of pony society. Long before Discord, and long before the tribes were at one each others throats, they stood together to be secure and safe. "And like her ponies, a little filly did grow, as a student she could never replace." Faust stated with a smile a little filly at Majesty's side slowly grew into a mare. Rarity noted that her horn was still broken and she had what looked like a baby dragon riding on her back. "Her student learned and grew so much at Majesty's side. And eventually with a little help from her beloved teacher, she made many wonderful friends." Faust continued while Rarity watched five new ponies appear, one a unicorn, two Pegasi, and two Earth Ponies. "And with her friends alongside her, that little filly grew even more." Faust stated as it showed the once filly now mare seemingly studying six wands, what looked like a rainbow and several more objects. "And so, as she went to study and learn, an amazing discovery was made." Faust whispered and then formed six glowing spheres around the silhouette of the pony with a broken horn. "Six elements to light the darkness, six elements to bring order to the land." Faust stated and immediately saw Recognition in Rarity's eyes. "The Elements of Harmony!" She cried in recognition and a soft smile crossed Faust's face as she gave a single silent nod. "Yes. And with that creation the world would be given new hope." The mare stated before waving her horn and the scene was changed to show a great tower being built over what had once been Majesty's castle. "For years Majesty would protect her little ponies, a princess in their hearts, and yet never taking the title for herself. In the waning years of her rule she commissioned a grand tower built, magic in every stone. The tower rose and eventually, when all was done, Majesty was a very old mare." Faust said softly as the scene moved to a room where the now ancient mare was surrounded by friends. "For two hundred long years, she looked after her little ponies. Faithfully caring for each and every one of them." Faust said with tears in her eyes as she remembered the mare who took her in so long ago. "And in the end, she chose a mare to look after them, a mare who would stand far longer than she." Faust stated as a white alicorn broke the black and red of the scenes and nuzzled Majesty softly. "The student she took in so very long ago." Faust stated and saw Rarity gape as the scene changed to show the white alicorn her head bowed with a crown as a single tear fell. "As her time finally came, her tower completed and gifted to her student, the land itself did grieve. For three days and three nights there was a great torrential rain. It was said by the student that day, "So too does the sky weep, for Queen Majesty, is no longer here." Faust finished, her eyes closed and old tears falling down her cheeks. With her story done Faust's horn dimmed, her eyes fell and she allowed a slight ghost of a smile to grace her lips. "Q-Queen? I-I've never heard of a Queen. W-well, aside from that horrid Queen Chrysalis that is." Rarity said through sniffles and Faust idly nuzzled the tearing mare. "Oh do forgive me darling, but it's been quite some time since I've heard a story quite like that." Rarity admitted and Faust nodded her head and sighed softly. "Majesty wasn't royalty by blood, nor did she ever truly accept the tittle of Princess. She believed that the greatest tittles she ever accepted were simply, teacher and friend. But when she died, her student believed, that for all the good she did and all the ponies she saved, she deserved to be queen." Faust explained and closed her eyes as she remembered that day from so very long ago. "I see. It's almost hard to believe she was a princess at the same time as those other six mares." Rarity noted while Faust nodded her head. "Strangely enough, some of Majesty's subjects actually saved the Princess Ponies. They finally buried the hatchet afterwards and worked together to keep the balance of magic in the land." Faust admitted and Rarity smiled slightly. "Seems to me that everything Majesty ever did ended up working out well for ponies. She builds a castle, ponies come and she protects them, the ponies she protected save the Princess Ponies, and balance is restored to the lands. She takes in a little filly, and she turns out to be a powerful Alicorn who makes the Elements of Harmony, which have saved Equestria on more than one occasion." Rarity noted aloud, idly rubbing her chin and wondering what else the ancient princess / queen had done that they had benefited from. "Anyways Rarity, I hope you enjoyed the story. It's actually one of my personal favorites." Faust admitted and watched as the fashion pony sudden sat straight up with a sparkle in her eyes. "Ideeeaaa!" She declared and jumped to her hooves before shooting off to work. Faust blinked in surprise, then yelped as Rarity grabbed then yanked her to her hooves and pulled her over to stand beside her dress-forms. Looking at her strangely Faust watched as Rarity sifted through her designs for a moment, grabbed a pencil in her magic and began to make some moderate changes. "Yes, I have to say miss Faust, I don't know what it was, but something about that story, it spoke to me!" Rarity gushed while spinning Faust around, the mare stumbling on her hooves as Rarity shot off. "I don't know why, I can't really explain it, it's almost like hearing that story, of all the wonderful things Majesty did, have somehow inspired me." The white unicorn gushed as she started to work, taking a moment to look to her dress-forms and pulled them over to her sides. "Not only for you mind you, but for other designs as well!" The fashionista declared with a smile as she used her magic to command multiple objects which began to float all around her. Watching the fashion pony work, Faust cracked a smile and giggled into her hoof. "Huh, and here I thought I was the only one who knew how to multitask like this." The off-white mare noted to herself as Rarity continued her work, moving this and that over to her dress-forms. Faust watched her new friend as she shot this way and that, moving a plethora of items with her magic even as she worked to complete each dress. "Miss Faust, would you be a dear and open your wings please?" Rarity questioned and the disguised alicorn raised a but did as bade, opening her wings and stretching them out. "Ah, thank you." Rarity stated as she then circled around Faust a few times before using her magic to open a cabinet and bring several bolts of cloth over, dragging a mass of dust along with it. The dust passed close and Rarity brushed it away, although Faust sniffled as some tickled at her nose a bit. The older mare then inhaled deeply several times before suddenly letting loose a sneeze. Rarity yelped and ducked down as their was an explosion of light, fabric and such sent flying in all directions. Looking up when all had passed, Rarity found Faust buried under a veritable mountain of cloth. Quickly using her magic to uncover Faust's head the unicorn mare couldn't help but think she looked a little different. "Oh my, miss Faust are you alright?" Rarity questioned and the buried mare let out a sigh as she shook the fabric off of herself. "Yeah I'm fine, there was just a lot of dust." Faust replied while lifting her back legs and shook the cloth off of them. Had she taken a moment to look at the white unicorn, she might have noticed her eyes going wide. "How often do you dust this place anyways? I know you're really neat and tidy, but a good dusting never hurts. I mean there was this one time when I have tons of dust back home, it didn't even bother me until I was doing a spell and sneezed and... and..." Faust started to explain before she stopped completely and looked to the wide eyed Rarity. "And my spell canceled itself out..." She stated in realization and looked herself over to see that her transformation spell had been canceled out... "Uhh... well, um, I can totally explain this." Faust assured Rarity and yet the white unicorn continued to stare at the older mare. "Y-Y-You really are an alicorn!" The mare exclaimed and Faust quickly looked around to make certain no pony had heard her. Once she was certain no pony was spying on them, the off-white alicorn offered a nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "Yeah, about that..." Faust stated to say only for Rarity to sit back and bring a hoof to her head. "S-So, h-how much have you told me and Pinkie that's actually true?" Rarity questioned shakily and Faust looked more than a little uncomfortable, idly shifting her wings at her sides. "Well, it's all been more or less true. I'm not a Princess, though really it should be I'm not a Princess anymore, my reign only lasted a hundred or so years. And I am really an Archivist, but it's more a self appointed tittle than anything really. I really do only have some ribbons, jewelry, and such to my name, again, in my day we weren't big on dresses and such. I think stables and bridles and such were still used though..." Faust replied nervously while Rarity twitched and then used her magic to bring a cup of tea from... somewhere. Faust wasn't going to question it, the poor mare seemed really out of sorts from all this. "And well... I am on vacation, sort of, I've spent like two thousand years locked in my tower and figured I could use a break. I did use to tell stories as well... but technically I was actually there for most of them, since I actually knew Twilight The Wish Granter Personally. And I did raise two fillies once a while back, but that was when Discord was around and..." Faust continued to admit with a nervous grin while Rarity continued to shake and then her eyes widened. "W-Wait a second, y-you raised two fillies, one named Celestial Majesty and the other you called Woona..." She whispered and then gasped and pointed at the other mare. "Sweet Mother of Celestia! You're the mother of Celestia!" Rarity exclaimed and Faust rapidly shook her head. "No! I mean sort of, I did raise her and Luna when Discord was in power but I didn't give birth to them or anything! There real parents were turned into something by Discord so I took them in and kind of taught them about magic and such, but that's all!" Faust stated and yet Rarity continued to look at the mare with her eyes wide. "You're still there mother!" The white-unicorn insisted and then began to hyperventilate. "Oh dear oh dear, I'm actually talking to the mother of Celestia and Luna! I'm shouting at the mother of Celestia and Luna!" Rarity whispered desperately while Faust shifted nervously once more and brought her sweater over to slip it back on, unfolding the sleeves so it would fit her larger frame. With that done the ancient alicorn slowly walked over to Rarity and sat down beside her, the white-unicorn looking more and more distressed. "Um... well, I suppose since I'm being honest here, you remember my story about Majesty?" Faust questioned while opening a wing and wrapping it comfortingly around the fashinista. "Y-Yes... it was all true wasn't it?" Rarity questioned softly and Faust nodded her head. "Yeah well I'm... I was actually her student." Faust admitted and Rarity clearly could take no more as she swooned, brought a hoof to her head and passed out into Faust's open wing. Letting out a sigh, Faust then looked to the unconscious mare for a moment before hitting herself on the head and groaning. "I'm barely here for a day and my secret is already blown, good work Faust, good work." She muttered and lifted Rarity with her magic before carrying her up the stairs to find her room. She really hoped that Rarity would hear reason in the morning and could be convinced to keep her secret to herself. She also had to wonder what else could possibly go wrong... -- Twilight trotted back into the library with a bag of cupcakes floating at her side. The lavender mare looked around for Spike for a moment, and finally saw the Baby Dragon putting a couple of books on a shelf. "I'm back Spike, did Celestia's letter arrive?" The lavender mare questioned of her number 1 assistant and Spike glanced at her pensively for a moment before shifting on his claws. "Uh... actually, no." Spike admitted sheepishly and Twilight lunged forward until she was nose to nose with the Baby Dragon. "What do you mean no!?" Twilight demanded and began to pace around the floor once more, Spike breathing a sigh of relief and leaning heavily into the shelf. "What could be taking her so long? Princess Celestia would never just forget about something so important!" Twilight exclaimed while pacing, Spike quietly grabbing the bag of cupcakes from her magic to make sure that she didn't drop them. "Okay Twilight I know this seems bad, but maybe Princess Celestia is... uhh... okay, I really don't have anything this time." Spike admitted while watching his companion pace around worriedly. She soon stopped to see Spike shifting through the bag to pull out his gem coated cupcake. "Oh boy, emeralds, amethyst, and rubies!" The baby dragon gushed with his mouth watering. Twilight snorted and narrowed her eyes on her assistant, her horn flared for a moment and the cupcake was encased in her magic and pulled away from Spike as he tried to take a bite. "Hey!" The baby dragon cried at the lavender unicorn as she brought the cupcake to her side. "Focus Spike! This could be serious!" Twilight reminded the baby dragon seriously and then narrowed her eyes and tapped a hoof into the ground. "Princess Celestia hasn't answered us back even though it's almost been a full day since I sent my notice of Faust to her. I can only assume that something is preventing her from answering back to us, so either Faust is some evil being who wants to disable the Elements of Harmony, something else has taken her hostage, or less likely it's all just a big coincidence." Twilight stated while Spike gave the lavender unicorn a strange look. "Why would you think she's after the Elements of Harmony?" Spike questioned and Twilight let out a soft sigh. "Every time something has tried to destroy Equestria, The Elements have managed to stop it, or at least been a part of the solution. My theory is that if Faust is as intelligent and well read as it seems then if she was evil the first thing she would target would be my friends. Given how I haven't heard from Celestia, I would also assume she's found a way to block any magic heading to Celestia leaving us cut off from Canterlot unless we take the train, in which case she could potentially..." Twilight started to explain, Spike widening his eyes as he realized just how thoroughly the mare had thought this out. "Uh... you've really given this a lot of thought, haven't you." Spike noticed and the lavender unicorn blushed slightly and looked away from her friend. "In my defense it seems like evil attacks the town every other week." Twilight stated and sent the baby dragon his cupcake with her magic. "And it never hurts to be prepared." Twilight finished and cantered over to the bag of cupcakes to get her own. Spike on the other hand merely rolled his eyes and started to munch on his cupcake. "If you ask me, you need to relax. I get that things are looking suspicious and all, but you haven't even met this Faust mare yet." Spike noted aloud with a bit of gemstones flying from his mouth, Twilight giving him a dirty look in response. "Spike, don't talk with your mouth full!" Twilight admonished and the baby dragon rolled his eyes and happily returned to his cupcake. "And as for things being suspicious, they've become more so. Pinkie Pie met Faust yesterday, and while I can believe that is a coincidence given that it's Pinkie, she also met both Rarity and Fluttershy today." Twilight explained and pulled a cupcake forward to take a bite out of it. "So you're saying she's meeting up with all your friends, I get that is kind of strange... but why is that suspicious?" Spike questioned worriedly, now feeling very concerned for Rarity. "I... I don't know." Twilight admitted and took another bite of her cupcake, chewed it precisely for a few moments and then swallowed. "Pinkie actually mentioned quite a bit about Faust, she's not a morning pony, very smart, has impressive magical abilities, a mother of two, very high strung, older than she looks, an archivist of course, a story teller, but nothing incriminating." Twilight explained and Spike blinked and scratched at his head. "So she's a bit old, but is otherwise a normal mare?" Spike asked and Twilight shrugged her shoulders. "Seems like it, but at the same time she also knew odd things, like how Pinkie has apparently patented all her songs." Twilight replied and leaned back with her cupcake floating in front of her as she took another bite out of it. "Well it's actually stranger to me that Pinkie has taken the time to patent all her songs." Spike noted aloud and Twilight inclined her head in agreement with the baby dragon. "She thinks ponies are making their own versions of them or something." Twilight explained and Spike scratched his head with a hopelessly confused look on his face. "What?" He asked and then shook his head, deciding that it was just a case of Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie. "Anyways it all seems like maybe this has all been one big coincidence." Spike stated and took another bite out of his cupcake and happily devoured both gems and baked good. Twilight idly inclined her head, admitting that it all did seem just a tad coincidental, but she then frowned deeply and glanced to one of her bookshelves. She remembered what Pinkie had said about the story of Twilight The Wish Granter and narrowed her eyes. "Spike, do we have a book with the story of Twilight The Wish Granter around here?" Twilight questioned and Spike stopped eating his cupcake for a moment. The baby dragon tapped a claw against his chin for only a moment before nodding his head. "Yeah, it's with all the other fairy tales." He replied and Twilight rolled her eyes but turned to the shelf in question and began to sift through the books with her magic, idly munching on her cupcake as she did. "No... no... no..." She whispered under her breath before pulling out a very old book. "Aha, here you are." The lavender unicorn said happily and brought the book over before opening it to her desired story. "Let me see now..." She mumbled while reading and then smirked when she found the passage. "And the little filly spoke to the mare of the moon... aha, I knew it!" The unicorn mare happily crowed, which drew Spike's attention to her once more. "What is it now?" Spike questioned as he finished his cupcake and walked over to the lavender unicorn, Twilight lifting the book up for him to see. "I confirmed my suspicion Spike! Faust told Pinkie and the others about Twilight The Wish Granter, but her version had Twilight speaking with the moon itself, this version here has her speaking with The Mare of The Moon, who would have to be Luna." Twilight explained and finished her cupcake before tossing the wrapper into a nearby trashcan. Looking at the book for a minute, the baby dragon looked back to Twilight and crossed his arms. "Okay, so how is that important?" The Baby Dragon questioned with a frown and Twilight sighed and gave her friend an annoyed look. "It's important Spike, because Twilight The Wish Granter is a story far older than most ponies know. Princess Celestia once told me she heard the story back when she was still just a filly." Twilight began and then clicked her tongue and pulled another book from a nearby shelf. "That means Luna couldn't possibly have helped Twilight, she was probably still just a foal at the time or it could even have been before she was born! My point is, Faust has a legible copy of the original story." Twilight stated and opened the new book to scan it's contents for a moment while Spike scratched his head in confusion. "Okay... but I'm still not seeing your point, Twilight." Spike admitted and Twilight let out a sigh. "Basically what I'm trying to explain is that Faust has a copy of the original story. To have an original means that it had to have existed before The Pre-Classical Era during Discords reign." Twilight explained as she sifted through the book and smirked as she found the page she wanted. "And according to this book, during Discord's reign he was well known to make the writing in books into complete nonsense because they were just "Too Boring" before he got his grimy claws on them." Twilight continued and a look of realization suddenly dawned on Spike's face. "So because Faust has one, that means wherever she works as an archivist, there are a bunch of ancient books that shouldn't exist?" Spike questioned and Twilight nodded her head with a grin. "Yes!" Twilight declared and happily clapped her hooves, before a sudden thought occurred to her. "Wait a second, that means that Faust can't be an Archivist from Canterlot, none of the books there are that old!" Twilight realized and then rubbed at her chin. "It also means that Faust potentially has access to books we couldn't even imagine, possibly older journals and diaries of powerful unicorns from ages lost..." Twilight realized, her mind going over thousands of possibilities, and more than a few daydreams of finding such a lost repository of knowledge... "So then Faust works in some super secret Archives or something then?" Spike questioned of his companion curiously and Twilight hummed lightly and leaned back in her seat. "Possibly..." She admitted and then glanced outside and sighed. "But it's getting late, we should head to bed Spike. Tomorrow morning I'm heading over to Rarity's to meet this unusual mare named Faust." Twilight stated and a grin crossed the baby dragon's face. "Really! Can I come?" Spike asked happily and Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes. "Alright Casanova, but just remember we're there to learn what we can about Faust, not so you can make goo-goo eyes at Rarity." Twilight stated seriously as she got to her hooves and trotted to the stairs to her room. Spike walked at the lavender unicorn's side, a happy grin on his face as he patted her leg. "Aw I'm not that bad about it Twilight, I can totally handle this." Spike assured her and the mare looked down at him, clearly not convinced... -- TBC...