"Thank you so much for dropping this off," Twilight Sparkle was saying.
All three Crusaders had returned the mysterious package to the Library, and were sitting in perfect formation with wide, eager eyes.
"Do we get our mailpony cutie marks now?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"I think our resident mailpony would be out of a job if you three took it," Twilight explained. "And you wouldn't want to do that to her, would you?"
"But she always mixes up the-" Scootaloo began, before Apple Bloom bapped her on the head.
"Shh."
Twilight looked down at the package, whom known had been able to identify or open.
"Do you girls have any ideas about this box?" She asked.
"Discord said it can only be opened by the one who put the magic on it, or by the one it's intended for," Scootaloo said.
Twilight narrowed her eyes. "And what were you doing talking to Discord? I thought I made myself very clear on this."
"It's not our fault, he appeared in our clubhouse! We were just minding our business!" Apple Bloom chimed in.
"Well... alright. I'll have to have a talk with him then. But at least we know only somepony who lives here at the Library can open it," she said.
Spike rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Who said it had to be a pony who lives here?" He asked. "Maybe it's filled with all sorts of gems!"
"And candy!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Gems and candy and books!" Twilight added.
"Oh my," Spike continued. "But, no." He took the box that sat in the middle of all of them, and shook it carefully. As usual, there was no sign of anything being held inside. He did his best to open all the flaps, but not a single one of them gave way even an inch.
"It's no use," he said after a minute or two. "It's not gonna open for me, either."
"Well that's just ridiculous!" Twilight said. "There's nobody else who lives here! Only an owl, and it's not for him, either!"
"How do you know?" Spike asked.
"Well who would send an owl a gift?"
"Pinkie gives Gummy presents all the time," Scootaloo said.
"Pinkie is illogical," Twilight said. "But if it makes you feel any better, fine, we'll test it. Spike, go get the owl."
"Who?" Spike asked.
Twilight glared at him.
"Everybody's a critic..." he muttered, and went upstairs.
"Girls, don't you have school today?" Twilight asked, turning her attention on the Crusaders.
"Not today, they're repainting all the classrooms," Sweetie Belle said.
Spike returned with the owl on his wrist, who gazed thoughtfully at the box. The bird was placed upon it, and even pecked at it a bit, but nothing seemed to happen.
"See? I told you," Twilight said.
"What if it's not somepony who lives here at all?" Spike asked.
"But the box says-"
"What if it's somepony who USED to live here?"
Twilight's eyes brightened. "Spike, you're a genius!"
"I am?"
"Yes! Rarity says it's very easy to move and forget to change shipping addresses, especially if you've only stayed someplace for a short time." Her smile faded. "But the only one who's stayed here is... oh, no."
"Who is it?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Girls, I'm going to have ask you to head on back to your clubhouse," Twilight said. "Spike, you know who to call."
"Ghostbusters?" He asked.
"Spike!"
"Alright... but... you're sure? I mean... you're sure?"
"I'm sure," Twilight said.
"Who is it?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"I promise I'll tell you everything later, but right now I need you girls to go home. I'm sorry."
The Crusaders slowly filed out, looking dejected and rejected.
"Never get to stay around with the big ponies..." Scootaloo complained, and the door closed.
Spike returned, and appeared worried. "She's coming over right away," he said. "You sure we're doing the right thing?"
"Only one way to find out," Twilight said, gazing at the box which had defied all atttempts of opening it.
The doorbuzzer rang out front.
"There's sttill time to pretend we're not home," Spike said.
Twilight sighed and inhaled deeply. "What's the worst that could happen, Spike?"
"I can think of a number of things..."
Twilight answered the door, her confidence already shaken by the sight of the figure on the other side.
"Hello again," Twilight said, trying to force a smile.
"My, my," said Chrysalis. "It HAS been a while, hasn't it?"