Books were scattered in frantic but neat piles, pages left open and put to the side for proper care in the future.
Normally they would receive better care and placed neatly on the shelves, but Ponyville’s librarian clearly wasn’t in the mood to pay any absolute attention to them. A pink aura surrounded the neat piles, the magic of levitation cradling the books as they were lifted and placed in a safer spot, farther from the lavender pony’s line of work.
“No, no, no…this is all wrong!” The lavender pony frowned as she began to levitate another set of books, her concentration focused on the contents inside. “There should be something around here…ugh…!”
A small purple dragon with light-green spikes entered the blue book-filled room. “…Twilight…? Did you find anything?”
Twilight clenched her teeth in frustration until she raised her hooves into the air. “NO!”
The sudden explosion of emotions caused the lavender mare to scatter all of the books she once held in a spell of levitation, leaving them all over the floor in a disorganized manner. The glowing aura from her horn sputtered out into nothing as the alicorn panted.
The dragon blinked. “Oh, um…did…did you want anything to drink?” He walked towards the lavender mare, putting a claw against her in a comforting manner. “…’Cause no offense, Twilight…but you look pretty stressed.”
‘It’s not the first time, either.’ He rolled his eyes inwardly.
Twilight shook her head and stopped short as she took a deep breath. She let it out slowly as she raised her right fore-hoof into the air, a relaxing and calming posture, just like Cadance does. “…You’re right, Spike…I need to take a break, and…and relax…”
Spike nodded in approval as he turned away to head out of the library room until the lavender mare once again started levitating the books she threw, causing him to turn back around. “H-Hey, Twilight…” He started.
The lavender mare frowned as she allowed the books to surround her, the aura surrounding her horn rippling in a constant motion. “…How can I even think about relaxing when my friends could possibly be in jeopardy? I can’t take a break, Spike, not when I haven’t found a clue yet as to where they’ve gone!”
The dragon sighed deeply as he face-clawed in frustration. Sometimes Twilight just keeps pushing herself to the limit, doesn’t she? “Twilight…this is exactly why you should take a break! If you haven’t found a clue yet, what are the chances of you finding one in the time you should be calming down? You can’t think straight when you’re like this.” He challenged.
Twilight groaned as she slowly released her magical hold on the books in front of her. “…Alright…but just a small one, Spike…” The light from her horn faded, and the mare felt a rush of fatigue rush through her body.
Spike smiled as he turned back to head out. “Alright, then! I’ll be in the kitchen making your drink.” Stopping for a moment, his smile grew smaller as he kept his gaze from the mare. “…You can wait here, if you want.”
Twilight sighed softly. “…No, I-I’ll be heading over there. Just…just give me a moment.” She watched as her companion walked out of the room, claw-steps echoing outside through the blue hallways.
Twilight frowned as her purple eyes rested on a picture of several ponies in a picture together; her body slumped in a tired posture.
She was in the center with a grin, her dark purple and pink mane clashing with the orange earth pony behind her with a brown Stetson on her head, blonde bangs spilling out in front of the mare’s astonished but amused face. Beside her next to Twilight was a white pristine unicorn pony, her lush purple mane restrained into tight fashionable curls while her mouth was opened wide with shock. Next to the white one was a pink earth pony with a crazy-curly mane, her muzzle wide in a huge grin as she hugged a yellow pegasus who looked completely surprised at the sudden contact, her pink mane covering one of her eyes from the audience’s view.
Purple eyes lifted up towards the top of the photo as she gained strength in her hooves to stand in front of the framed memory. In the air just above her friends in the back was a rainbow-maned pegasus, clutching her sides in a desperate attempt to stop laughing.
Twilight smiled as she let out a small giggle. She remembered that day.
She took a picture with her friends after the Tirek incident in front of her new castle, and Pinkie Pie just threw a random glomp at Fluttershy to 'liven up the picture a little with some fun’. It wasn’t the first time they took a picture there, but it felt fun to do anyway. Rainbow Dash just couldn’t stop laughing after the shoot while Rarity scolded Pinkie for the lack of personal space. Twilight wanted to keep it because it showed more than just ponies sitting together…it was a group of ponies having a good time.
…It did give life to the picture. The lavender mare frowned as she took her eyes away from it, letting herself slump back onto her hind legs. Thinking about her friends only reminded her of the ordeal she was trying to take a break from.
The day had started out just fine, too. Everything was already organized from last night’s checklist of things to do, and she and Spike had re-shelved the library to get it done and over with so that they could possibly sleep in today since it was the weekend, then she’d have plenty of time to hang out with her friends.
…A mistake she never expected at the time. Apparently during her sleep, an unnatural disaster occurred near Cloudsdale that morning, and both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy managed to stop it…but they never showed up afterwards.
There were no traces of any bodies, or even any guarantee that they were dead. They were just…missing.
When Twilight had gotten the news from a group of pegasi from Cloudsdale, she flew to the site where the hurricane occurred…but as far as she could tell, there were no traces of either of her friends. There was some kind of magical remnants…but she couldn’t quite put her hoof on what it was.
“…Spike, has Princess Celestia replied to my letter yet?” Twilight asked the small dragon as she walked into the kitchen.
Ever since Tirek, her home had grown to be…an immensely larger space than she ever needed in a house. Despite her title and position, she was rather hesitant in accepting the perks and responsibility of being a Princess. She missed the days when she would live in her humble tree-house she used to call home, surrounded by her friends and her books. Now everything around her reminded her she was a princess…
…Including her friends.
Spike shook his head as he pulled out a white mug and started putting dark-brown powder it. “Sorry, Twilight…The Princess hasn’t replied, and I don’t feel one coming yet.”
Twilight lowered her head with a sigh. She had sent a letter to the Princess regarding the strange remnants of energy she felt…but so far it didn’t seem to make a difference. “…It’s alright. Usually she gives immediate replies, so…I…I guess I’m just impatient.” She gave a sheepish grin. “…Sorry you have to put up with me.”
Spike slowly poured hot water into the mug, stirring the contents for a moment until it was evenly mixed into a black hot liquid. “It’s not a problem…” He kept a tired smile. Walking over to the lavender mare, the dragon gave a huge grin as he held up the hot mug, steam blocking him somewhat out of her view. “Here, it’s piping hot and ready!”
Levitating the mug into her own magic hold, it lifted from the dragon’s claws to the mare’s mouth, gently making sure to tip ever so slightly as Twilight took a sip from her mug. Taking the mug from her lips, the mare gave a soft smile to her companion, purple eyes slightly watery from the emotional stress. “…Thank you, Spike.”
Spike grinned. “Like I said, not a problem! Your number one assistant is always ready to help when you need it!”
Twilight felt her mouth form into grin. “…Then I’m really lucky to have you.”