The deal still rang in his ears as if it was just recently said. Velvet sits nearby Princess Celestia in the royal throne room after finding it through the maze of corridors and of course the same damn rooms over and over. Eventually he found the large throne room and had to take his seat, a simple purple and gold chair, next to Celestia as she spoke with ponies about different problems that occur and brought to her attention. His job was simple, record it all for the record book and look back over for later use. This entire time, he could feel his rage boil over nobles since some of the problems were 'My honor was insulted and demand a duel' or 'I wish to court Luna' or some horse manure like that. He just holds it in and writes it all down for later reference.
This had gone on for a good five hours as he got a taste of what she had to deal with on a daily basis. Velvet was happy it was almost time for a break when he came in. As soon as the doors opened, he looked up and saw the stallion that made him really want to lose it.... Blueblood. As the stallion entered, Velvet looked over and saw a bored look on Celestia as if she has no love for him either. At this point, Velvet simply tuned the coversations out and written down keypoints.
Name: Blueblood
Problem: Bits
Reason: Go gambling in Las Pegasas
That was the only reason the Royal douche even came into the room and left. One thing that was certain, he recognized Velvet and left with his tail between his legs as that brought a smug grin to the stallion. Before he knew it, it was time for a break as he stands and stretches as Celestia smiles like always. He was a bit curious as he looked out one of the windows as he turns to Celestia "Princess.... what all parts of the castle am I allowed in during my punishment?" he asks. He was simply curious... honest.
Celestia stands and walks with him to the window as she smiles "You have a few places you can't go. Starswirl the Bearded and Clover the Clever libraries you can't go to. The rooms of Luna and mine you may not enter unless we allow you too. Two of my guards will escort you around, but other then those four places the rest are quite open, just need your guards" she explains. That just has him nod as two stallions stand guard and look at Velvet. Both wore the traditional gold armor, yet also the serious look all guards have. Velvet looks at Celestia and nods as he walks, the two guards following suit as the doors open and close. He stops in the hallway as he looks at them "Hey can I ask you something?"
"..."
"Right. Anyways where is the library in this place? I mean the regular library, not the two that Princess Celestia say I am well not permitted to enter."
"..." the two guards simply start to walk as Velvet follows them. After taking a few hundred turns around the maze of the corridors, the guards stop before two large golden doors. Velvet just looks at them as he carefully puts his hands on the door and pushes them open as he walks in. His eyes wander as he whistles "Well.... this is definitely a library" he says. The place was filled from top to bottom with books, more so then Twilight's library in her castle as he keeps walking into the room. The doors close as he smirks a bit "Well... guess it's time to start looking. I doubt the Princesses would keep black magic books out in the open, but still wouldn't hurt to check" he thinks as his magic gets to work pulling books off.
A good forty minutes pass, leaving him only twenty in his break as he had just finished with the books sectioned 'D' as he sighs. This was taking longer then he thought as he moved on to the next section. Each section he went two had more books then the last and it was as if each new term or event gets it's own personal book in this library as he goes and pulls off a book titled 'Equestrian Literature: Sonnets and Poems' as something dropped. It was another book, but it's title was a bit off from the regular books. Where each book had golden letters in the title, this one had black leatters with a white outline as he puts the Literature book back. He kneels down and picks up this book as it was..... weird. The cover was black and felt like a leather bound book instead of hardback or paperback. The other weird thing was that it had no author anywhere. Cover, front page, back cover, nowhere was a author present. The title of the book seem to be non-existent in the sun, but when Velvet moved it to the shade for a better view, the title came to life in a weird blue and black color.
He raises a eyebrow as he reads the title "The Midnight Grimoire" he reads as he raises a eyebrow "What the hay kind of title is that?" he thinks. He simply shrugs as he flips it around and sees the pages have some kind of silver finish to them. As he opens the book he finds something unexpected. Nothing. There was nothing on the pages. No index, page number, chapter, nothing just... blank pages. He rolls his eyes as he thinks it's a joke and simply stands and puts the book back. He was about to walk out as he stops and thinks. If it's a blank book, maybe Princess Celestia would let him keep it? I mean it's blank, it has nothing to do in a library as he shrugs. He walks back as he resumes the punishment and again another complaint about honor. He does his job as he notices these nobles toss the word honor around like it is just a plaything to them. What do they know of honor? Nothing. They are fed by silver spoons at birth and know nothing of it... well except the Alicorns, they know about honor.
As the day comes to a close, Velvet finishes the final word as Celestia shakes his hand "I thank you for this my little pony. It is a rather hard time to find a decent note keeper and if ever want to do another job, you are welcome here and be paid for it" she says. While the offer was tempting he shakes his head "Only If I am truly desperate for bits Princess" he says. He rolls up the parchment and lays it on a desk as he looks at her "By the way.... you know you have a empty book in your public library up here? I was wondering if I can take it to keep? You know since it can't really help any pony" he says. Celestia looks over at him with a raised eyebrow "And why, pray tell, do you want a empty book?"
"Well when I get a empty book as a gift or bought one, I use it as a journal of sorts. A journal, dream journal, note record of spells, potions and side effects, and other stuff" he says explaining it. The answer seemed legit enough for one of forbidden powers. It would be wise for a pony like him to make a record of such things to help inform other users of such problems that may occur as she nods. Velvet returned to the library and took the book off the shelf as he walks out and to the street to get on the train.
As he does so, he notices another stallion getting on. He had a light brown body, some streaks of two-tone grey and a grey goatee to match. The stallion was a unicorn, but also dressed with some blue pants, dark blue jacket, white shirt and a weird green bowtie. He looked just like a professor as he sits next to Velvet, the young voodoo stallion also recognized the older stallion had a pin on his shirt of what looked like a document, rolled up and with the official royal seal on it. He looks over "My my, what have we hear? A stallion with a book on a train this late at night, oh this is a real treat" he says. Something felt off about the stallion as Velvet simply scooted away, just for him to scoot closer.
In a second, the book is gone and in the older stallion's hands "The Midnight Grimoire? Oh now that is a book I have not read in a long time! Now it has a new reader oh this is too much fun for one heart to handle" he says. He falls backwards, except he is now floating on nothing. Velvet walked around him as he looks at him "How the? What the? Huh?" he says as he is confused. The stallion simply chuckles "Oh my dear boy, don't think to hard on it. First time I did this I gave Lulu a headache" he says. Velvet looks at him "Who, in the name of Celestia, Luna, and in the name of dark magic, are you?" he asks.
The stallion waves his hand and chocolate milkshakes come out as he smiles "Just call me... a friend" he says as his grey eyes meet with Velvet's light purple eyes.