//------------------------------// // An Incident at the Library 4 // Story: The Subversive Scrolls // by Ponyess //------------------------------// ”Twilight, Twilight, come look at this. I just found a scroll in the book depository while you were out. But it certainly wasn't part of the Library inventory. I'd know that much. You really should look into it!” Spike exclaimed, just as Twilight entered the door of the library. “What? Let me see?” Twilight replied in indignated surprise to the unexpected announcement. It wasn't as if scrolls were common in the library. It was outdated. Seeing a scroll unannounced was highly unlikely, a fairly incredible thing to witness. “Would you keep an eye on the library while I check this scroll, Spike?” Twilight announced. “Sure thing, Twilight. For you, I'd do anything. Even if it is part of my job to handle library duties!” Spike replied. “What was that all about?” I muttered under my breath, as I hear the frantic buzz from the librarians. Everypony knew Twilight practically owned the library of Ponyville, from the moment she set hoof in the village, even if we did not know it back then. It had apparently been a Princess decree. The dragon by the name Spike at her side, managing everything. Even if she may have others helping out, but that's more or on voluntary basis, for all I care. That's the level of their work, at least. “What scroll? Apple Bloom asked curiously. “How in Tartarus would I know? Scootallo protested. “You should ask Twilight, she's holding it. I think she is about to read the text it contains. What ever it said!” I replied. “I hear her reading, but I have no clue what she is saying!” Apple Bloom stated. “That's clearly no language I have heard of. I have never heard any the like before!” I pondered. “Maybe it is a magic spell?” Scootallo pondered. “That would explain why we don't understand. Why we never heard the language it is written in!” Apple Bloom suggested, eagerly. “Sounds reasonable. I hope it is something cool!” Stated Scootallo. “That would be why Pinkie Pie left in such haste? Dinkie Doo filled in. “Oh, probably not. I missed when she was here. We were busy looking for the latest of Daring Doo!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “If Rainbow Dash reads it, it had to be cool!” Apple Bloom guessed. “I guess that makes sense!” Ditzy Doo pondered. “See you around!” Dinkie said, as she left the library with her mother in tow. That was just about in the nick of time, if only we knew how close the call had been? That's the case, they were never to know, unless somepony was to explain it to them. But what pony was going to tell either Ditzy or Dinkie Doo anything the likes? The Ponies had all walked out the door, just before Twilight red the scroll, only to be caught in the curse it had contained. I had seen them go, not knowing what was about to happen. Maybe I am lucky because I am a Dragon, or it is because I am male, I have no idea. “What happened?” Twilight enquired with a strange grin on her face as she looked at me, just as she had finished reading the scroll. “Something sure did happen, you have changed. Why or into what, I have no idea. I can only see the obvious!” Spike responded. “That is exactly what I need to know. How and into what I have changed. Exactly how this had affected me. Just as why it seems not to have affected you in any way. Unless that is merely what I can see. Do you feel changed in any way?” she enquired in a worried tone of voice, as curious as he knew she is. “We can examine and explore how you are affected. As to why, that would be an entirely different matter. Could we examine it safely? Since we don't want to risk any other Ponies on the off chance they will have the same experience, even if they may enjoy it. I couldn't take the chances on others, just like you couldn't!” he pronounced. “If we are to assume it affected only Ponies, Zecora would have been the first stop, since she is a Zebra. The next stop would be Cranky Doodle and Gilda, neither are Ponies and Cranky is male. For now, I am happy to leave this in Princess Celstia's capable hands, though. I can't trust the simple assumption just yet!” she responded, without a look down. “For now, maybe it was best to start with observing you and the changes coming over you? If so, I could start by expressing what I have seen this far? The most obvious is the bathing suit that seems to grow right out of your coat, possibly replacing it. The second is the smaller detail with your nails being replaced by miniature hooves on each of your fingertips!” he started off, somewhat insecurely, but in a not too weak voice. “A bathing suit? Maybe I should be taking a swim, since I am already wearing the suit for it? Though I think there is something more.  As if my mound had grown, it and my nibbles feels different in a strange way I just can't quite put a finger to!” she put forth in a less than characteristic certainty to her voice. “The hue is deeper and darker then your coat, but I think it is fitting you quite well, as if it had been made for you. Maybe something Rarity could have created? There is something about how your hooves changed I like, maybe it is just in the way it made me feel more at home!” he suggested. “Thanks, Spike. Anything to make you feel at home. This is after all your home too. I'm just not sure, it makes me feel strange. I guess I can live with how the effect accentuates my hooves in a way to make it stand out. Just that hooves, in place of nails is a strange notion to me!” I responded, in a teasing manner. --- --- ---