//------------------------------//
// Part 5 
// Story: Raven 
// by SaintChoc 
//------------------------------//

Raven walked into the Royal Canterlot Library carrying both a teapot and teacup. Despite the library being long closed for the night, every light remained on.

She set the teapot on a table in the main area and poured a fresh cup, then began peering down the rows. After a few minutes of searching, she found the princess, standing in place and focused on a book. Raven walked up to her. "Your chamomile tea, Princess." It was far too late for a black tea.

"Thank you, Raven," Celestia mumbled. She accepted the teacup, but made no move to drink it just yet.

After a period of silence, Celestia spoke. "I did not find anything more today." A standard statement from her these days. 

Raven gave her standard response. "I'm sorry to hear that, Princess. Drink your tea." 

Wordlessly, Celestia moved the cup to her lips and sipped. After another pause, she spoke again. "This one does contain an interesting passage, however."

"Is it a passage containing information that may lead to a solution?" Raven asked pointedly.

Celestia hesitated, avoiding her gaze, then began reading. "'There are many powerful spells and abilities that are on record as being unique to alicorns; however, there is one among them that stands out. The scholars of the world know next to nothing about this power—to the point that many suspect it to be fruitless legend—and yet it may be more powerful than anything we can currently conceive of.

"'It is said that under certain circumstances, if an alicorn with pure intent and love in their heart asks a promise of another being—and the being accepts—the universe will reshape to allow that promise to be fulfilled. Entire worlds can be woven if an alicorn reveals their truest desire to a fitting subject (who must themselves be a being of extraordinary will—typically another alicorn).

"'As rare as alicorns are themselves, none should expect to achieve this in their lifetime. This is an extraordinary circumstance that can only be fueled by the purest, most desperate want—a circumstance that a typical alicorn could never hope to achieve in thousands of years.'"

She paused. "The purest, most desperate want…"

"Celestia…" Raven began.

"I promised her that I would never leave her. Right until the end. If what this book says is true, then nothing in this world should have been able to change that." Celestia slowly closed the book. "...Not even me."

"Celestia, I supported your endeavors to collect magical knowledge from all corners of the world under the notion that you would be searching for solutions, not new avenues of regret."

"Well, I've failed at that," Celestia said softly. She slid the book back into its slot. "This is my third time reading through this row."

Raven sighed quietly. "I've received word of another possible lead. An archaeological dig some time ago unearthed ancient texts; they're still working on the translation, but it seems to have something to do with magic."

Celestia took another sip of her tea and nodded slowly. Raven continued. "I'll have more details for you in the morrow. For now…"

"Yes. Bed. Thank you, Raven." 

They walked out of the library together. Raven shut off the lights and locked the doors.