At the castle where Fluttershy had been off in a hurry towards, Princess Twilight was sorting out books, her sole companion a recent addition to town, the mare by the name of Starlight Glimmer.
Starlight was settling into town, the same as Twilight was years ago. Like Twilight, she had a hard time learning ponies’ names and how things were done in town. Ponyville mannerisms was a far cry from the orderly place she had kept in the distant wilderness. Twilight promised that things would improve over time and as far as she could see, her words rang true. Starlight met the others right away as they came and went more than anypony else, just as Twilight had met them so fast; and many more ponies she bumped into around town from meeting the mayor, the Cutie Mark Crusaders social club, and most of the professionals in town like Mr. and Mrs. Cake. After everything that happened, it was such a smooth transition from former foe to fierce friend.
She knew that Twilight saw her smiling more often, especially when she had found a book she long forgot that Twilight had in her vast collection. The town of equals forbade books with material that had anything to do with the world beyond them lest they corrupt themselves by inequality. Because of this, she hung out mostly at the library, another literary friend like so many of Twilight’s unicorn pals like Sunset Shimmer and Moondancer.
Starlight was acquainting herself with the – now newly reorganized – library catalogue that fit in several tall file cabinets. She loved to find books on magic of course and in that pursuit, continued to learn a lot more about the art. She wanted to find one particular text but with Twilight’s constant reorganizing, often just for fun which exasperated some ponies, she often had to consult Twilight herself on the matter. She lately had been interested in learning about the history of Equestria, especially about King Sombra and the Crystal Empire, just one out of many bad futures she had nearly imposed on the whole world not too long ago. She remembered also banning history books too. Just recalling her foolish belief that the only thing that mattered was the future often made her flush with embarrassment. She looked around but didn’t see Twilight nearby. The library was silent as it always was. She wished to know where the book about the evil king was so she needed to go ask.
It turned out that Twilight was fetching a book for her friend, Rarity, who is a born and raised Ponyville celebrity and well-known fashion designer across all of Equestria. Like most unicorns, she read too but she almost always stuck to non-fiction, particularly about the fashion industry. Twilight never did much personal delivery of books but with her closest friends, she would make exceptions. After all, with a deadline came little time to try to “consort with a giant mess of indexes” as Rarity might have said. Twilight was sliding a book from its place at a high shelf in the non-fiction section. It was well used and Twilight knew the cover by heart despite only once giving it a cursory glance. It didn’t interest her in the slightest. Spike the Dragon was nearby, wheeling a cart of books down the hall.
“Spike, if you may, please take this book to Rarity,” Twilight said.
Spike stopped wheeling the thing and arched his left eyebrow. “She should really consider just buying it from you. She rents it like once a week or something. I think she’s the only pony who reads it,” he replied.
“But that would defeat the purpose of this being a library,” Twilight said impatiently, obviously wanting him to just do as she asked. The book hovered towards him.
“Fine…I guess it’s been a while since I’ve visited her anyway.” Spike took the book out of the air, his sharp claws nearly indenting the cover.
They heard clopping on the polished stone floor as Starlight entered that part of the library. A new cold air greeted Starlight as the entered the non-fiction wing. The desert where she lived was cold too but this was different. She could embrace this cool air of knowledge that drifted among the shiny crystal pillars and the old parchment. She could embrace her new self who loves books for their own sake and not as a method of crushing the spirit of ponies under her hoof. She wished to become completely new, to abandon the magic she used to possess, and become entangled in the simple life of a small kingdom. That was all she looked forward to having in the world.
“Twilight, where would the books about King Sombra be located?” she asked from afar, her voice echoing slightly off of the rows of bookshelves.
“Who knows, this place changes like once a week,” Spike said. He obviously referred to the total maze of this library compared to the old and relatively cozy library Twilight used to have where books could be found with a quick push of a ladder.
Twilight grumbled. “That’s not true. I just do it once, er, maybe twice a month.” Spike shrugged his shoulders at her attempt to downplay her excessive desire to organize and started to walk out, throwing a quick “good luck” to Starlight.
Twilight regained her focus. “So, that book…it would be over in the History of the Crystal Empire section.”
“So not in Notable Rulers?”
“I…sort of got rid of that section. Not enough books to justify it and all.”
They walked together to one of the bookshelves and found the area concerning the Crystal Empire. Some of them are from the empire itself, their covers adorned with crystals. Starlight felt excited just being around books she had never read. The light shown through the crystals high up on the top shelf, making them look like stars. A student of learning, she thought it looked beautiful.
“You knew where to organize the book best?” Starlight asked.
Twilight chuckled shyly as she her magic brought a large book down. “I did write it after all. With a forward from Princess Celestia, if I may add.”
“That’s amazing!”
They gazed at the cover, a pretty painting of the tops of crystal towers highlighted by bright mountain peaks behind, a view of the far north. Suddenly, there was a distant sound that reminded Starlight of a frog or somepony burping badly.
“What was that? I thought the library was supposed to be quiet?” Starlight said, lifting her head up. The annoying sound had broken her concentration.
They heard the pitter patter of feet as Spike rushed towards them. Starlight wondered if he had forgotten something.
“What is it, Spike? We’re busy,” Twilight said. She looked at the dragon impatiently.
“Sorry, Twilight but I got a letter from Canterlot.” As he said, he was holding a white scroll with the gold of the royal seal firmly keeping it in place.
“Huh? Where did that come from?” Starlight said.
“Spike can receive letters from the princess but that happens rarely when she needs to send me something important,” Twilight answered. The two of them waited as Twilight pulled the scroll open. “This is peculiar. It’s from Princess Luna instead of Celestia.”
Starlight sighed. “I keep forgetting that Princess Luna is around. I sure missed a lot.”
“Don’t worry. You’re getting back on track every day,” Spike assured her with a smile and a friendly thumbs up. Starlight liked Spike. As a friend of course but she did think of him as the cutest in the castle with his carefree attitude and his tendency to faint when overly excited.
Twilight quickly skimmed the letter out of necessity, not disrespect. After, she practically thrust it into Spike’s arms. She put a hoof to her brow and closed her eyes as if the gears of her mind were churning at top speed.
“What’s wrong, Twilight?” Spike said, his tone worrying.
She turned towards him. “I have no idea, Spike. It just said two things: ‘Get out of the castle. Find a safe place’. I mean, why would she do that?”
Starlight was becoming antsy, her eyes darting to her sides. “Are we in danger? Should we leave?” She was breathing faster.
“I doubt it. Ponyville is totally safe and is rarely put into danger,” Twilight said confidently. “But, on the safe side, perhaps we should head to Sweet Apple Acres.”
As she was speaking, the scroll fell to the ground, the sudden sound of the metal seal as striking as a judge’s gavel. Starlight nearly leapt out of her skin but Twilight turned sharply to see Spike wobbling side to side, his eyelids drooping with barely any white visible.
“Spike!” Twilight shouted. She used her magic to lift him and put him on her back. The two unicorns locked eyes and nodded. In a pair of flashes, they were gone.
Mere minutes later, another pony entered the library. All was silent in every room except for her. Every member of the castle staff had fallen into a deep sleep. The pony took in the majesty of Twilight’s library and knew that this was the realm of the one she had sought. And yet, she was nowhere to be seen.