In Search of Letters
In Search of Letters
Miss Twilight Sparkle,
The text you requested, Ponies Big and Small, is not in our library of books, nor is there mention of it in the records of publication for the last two decades. The only time it appears is the year 974, approximately 38 years ago. We hope this clears up any confusion.
Silver Scroll,
Royal Canterlot Archives, Director of Literature
To The Equestrian Education Board,
It has recently come to my attention that one of the core textbooks used in schools all over Equestria is horrendously out of date (attached is the letter from the Royal Canterlot Archives regarding the book in question.) As a scholar myself, I recommend having the book updated, or finding a new one altogether.
Twilight Sparkle,
Student of Princess Celestia
Miss Twilight Sparkle,
Your recommendation and actions regarding Ponies Big and Small has been noted. It is a shame that nopony else before noticed that such a core piece of our educational system was so old and out of date. It has been put on the agenda for debate when the Board next meets in full, three months hence.
Lord Brighthoof,
Chairpony of the Equestrian Education Board
Lord Brighthoof,
Three months is much too long of a period, especially when the issue is present now! This is exactly the time of year that teachers everywhere are using this book to attempt to teach foals one of the fundamentals of our society, and life in Equestria as a whole. Is there some sort of emergency meeting or such you could call to remedy the error immediately?
Twilight Sparkle,
Student of Princess Celestia
Miss Twilight Sparkle,
I understand the issue and the urgency of the matter, but we are unable to do anything at this time. We need the time for the board members to travel, and to find a suitable replacement. If you can recommend something yourself before the period, I will try to have an emergency meeting called.
Lord Brighthoof,
Chairpony of the Equestrian Education Board
--_--_--_--
Twilight Sparkle tossed the last letter, the last useless letter, haphazardly on the top of a pile on the desk in her room above the library. Nothing, she mused, another rejection. Why is it so difficult to find a book like this? Buried under the stack of negative letters poked the corner of Ponies Big and Small, as though mocking her efforts to replace it.
She glanced over at the ever-dwindling supply of blank paper and ink on the other side of the desk. I guess there’s one pony I could still ask...
Dear Princess Celestia,
Sorry, this isn’t my friendship report, nor is it the paper you asked me to write on the governmental system of smaller pony tribes south of Equestria. I am writing to ask for help. Not that anything is wrong, I love living here in Ponyville, though I still miss Canterlot and my family there.
I recently was visited by three of the fillies here in Ponyville. They were looking for help with an assignment from school, and of course I offered to help. But during the course of my aid, I noticed that the textbook they were using, Ponies Big and Small, was the exact same edition I used under your tutelage.
I inquired to the Royal Canterlot Archives on newer editions, so I could request they be sent to the school here to be used in education, but they informed me that the book hasn’t even been updated in over thirty years! So, I wrote to the Equestrian Education Board and requested that they change the book. They agreed, but the hard part is finding one.
Apparently the book they have been using has worked great, and I did enjoy reading it and learned a lot from it, but I feel that there has to be some new information on the subject. I just can’t find a suitable replacement.
I was hoping that you might have an idea or something to help us find some way replace this old book. Thank you, Princess.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight waited a moment, admiring her hoofwork as she waited for the ink to dry. After a couple minutes, she rolled it up into a scroll, sealing it as she had been taught. A quick spell and a touch of a horn sent the letter off on it’s way. Now all that was left to do was wait.
From experience, Twilight knew that Celestia was probably in the middle of the Day Court right now, which meant her letter would be routed into the princess’ private chambers to be read later. That meant it would be at least a couple of hours before a reply would come.
Bored, the lavender pony got up and plodded down to the main floor of the library. Spike was standing on a small stepladder, reshelving those books that had been turned in recently. He was humming a merry tune and swishing his tail to keep the beat. Twilight suppressed a laugh.
She trotted over to the librarian’s desk and began rummaging for the check out sheet. Running a hoof down the list of names, Twilight looked to where each book was supposed to be, checking it off it the book was in the correct place, leaving it blank if it was still out. Unfortunately, due to Spike’s diligence, and the overall lack of ponies who did a lot of reading in Ponyville, by the time she was finished, Celestia’s reply still had not arrived.
With a groan, Twilight whacked her head on the desk, causing a resounding thump. Startled, Spike fell off the ladder, dropping the books he had been holding, along with several from the shelf he was organizing at the time.
Twilight quickly rushed around the desk and over to her assistant’s side. “Oh my gosh, Spike, are you okay?”
“Yeah... ‘M fine,” Spike replied, dizzily waving one claw in the air. “This nice floor broke my fall.”
A burst of lavender energy quickly lifted the books on the fallen dragon, stowing them safely on their shelves before returning to lift their victim to his feet. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you like that.”
Spike dusted himself off. “Don’t worry about it. Did you get any answers for your book search or whatever it was you were doing?” he asked, grabbing another stack of books from the check-in cart and beginning to replace them on the shelves.
“Yeah... all of them were no.” Twilight looked over at the shelf dedicated to textbooks. “I sent a letter to every single company or pony who ever printed a decent textbook, but none of them had what we would need.”
“What are you going to do? You promised Cheerilee you would find her something."
Twilight sighed. “I don’t know. I sent a letter to the Princess, but maybe I should just go tell Cheerilee it doesn’t look like she’ll get the books she needs... I’ll be back later.” After receiving a nod from Spike, and strapping on a one-sided saddlebag with a few bits, just in case, the lavender pony moved over towards the door.
Just before she opened it, however, it pulled itself open, aided by an aura of light blue magic. “Oh, hello darling!” the pony on the other side of the door said. “What a coincidence. Were you going somewhere?”
“Hello, Rarity,” Twilight replied, stepping back to let her friend enter the library. “I was just going over to Cheerilee’s house to tell her something.”
“Really,” Rarity said, cocking an eyebrow. “I did not realize you two were close.”
“We aren’t really, but I offered to help her find a book for her classes.” Twilight looked down at the floor. “But I haven’t found anything... I was on my way to tell her.”
“Oh, don’t be so down about it. Knowing you, you’ll have something figured out before tomorrow morning.”
Twilight waved a hoof dismissively. “Oh, I know. I have a couple letters I still haven’t gotten a reply from, but I don’t think any of them will turn up anything. At the most, maybe the letter I sent to the Princess will give me an idea. Either way, it’s been a couple days. She’s probably wondering how the search is going.”
Rarity paused for a moment, lost in thought. “Well, I know you’ll get it done how it needs to be. I was just stopping by to return that book you lent me on dress patterns awhile back.” The book levitated itself out of Rarity’s saddlebags and onto the check-in cart. “You were right. It was interesting, and I learned a couple more things.”
“That’s great!” Twilight smiled and returned to the desk briefly to cross it off the list. “Anything else I can help you with?”
“Not right now, darling, but if you want to leave now, my house is on the way to Cheerilee’s. We can walk together.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll be home later, Spike. Don’t forget to finish reshelving!” Twilight called as she walked out the door after Rarity.
“Sure,” Spike grumbled. “You go with Rarity, and I’ll stay here and do all the work... As usual.” With a mighty sigh, he pulled a massive gem from a stash behind a group of books nopony ever checked out and took a big bite. Stymied, he returned to his task.
--_--_--_--
“So, if you don’t mind me asking, what were you using that pattern book on?” Twilight asked as the two set off down Mane Street in the general direction of the Carousel Boutique.
“Do you remember the dresses that Aloe asked me to make?” Rarity asked, turning her head to see Twilight shake her head.. “You didn’t? No? Well she asked me to make a dress for her and her sister, for a convention something-or-other. They asked for a specific pattern, that I knew, of course, I just couldn’t remember exactly how to do it.”
“Oh, sure,” Twilight replied with a bob of her head. “Happens to me all the time. I read something in a book and need it a few months later and I can’t exactly recall it and I start to go a little crazy and... uh, continue. Sorry.”
“It’s quite alright, darling,” Rarity said after a brief fit of giggles. “I just needed the book to look up the pattern, and make sure I had it right. After all, Aloe threw in a few free premium spa passes along with the payment, and I couldn’t just take those with a dress that didn’t earn them.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “Premium passes? I didn’t even know they something like that.”
“Oh it is divine!” Rarity squealed. After assuring the other ponies in the street that she was perfectly fine, she continued, in a smaller voice, “The only problem is that I only get four, and there are six of us...”
Twilight nuzzled the side of Rarity’s head. “I’m sure it will all work out in the end, Rarity.”
“Of course. I’ll figure something out, even if I have to buy more for the others,” Rarity replied with a flourish as the duo stopped on the doorstep of the Boutique.
“Just remember,” Twilight said as her friend opened to door to her home. “They are your vouchers to give. Don’t let the others bother you about it, because I know how much that can get on a pony’s nerves.”
“He-he... You aren’t still upset about the whole deal with the Gala tickets, are you?” Rarity rubbed one hoof against the other nervously.
“Of course not.” Twilight smiled reassuringly. “So, I’ll see you at Pinkie’s party this weekend?”
“Of course,” Rarity said as she walked into her home. “See you then.”
“Bye, Rarity.” The door shut, leaving Twilight alone in the dying light of the afternoon. Shivering against the chilling bite of the wind, she set off towards Cheerilee’s house.
Cheerilee’s house was built in the classic style of Ponyville; Stout, strong houses built with wood harvested from the edge of the Everfree, and Whitetail Wood--replanted afterwards, of course. Her house was brightly colored, like most of the town, a creamy white with pink shutters topped by a yellow hay roof. Twilight quickly took all of it in as she raised her hoof to knock for the second time that week.
Some scratching, scrambling, a thump, and a “one moment, please,” later, Twilight was looking into the face of a pleasantly surprised Cheerilee.
“Twilight, what are you doing here? Not that you aren’t welcome, but... Come in, please.” Cheerilee stepped back, allowing the other pony to enter the small house.
“I just came by to tell you that I, uh...” Twilight stared into space, voice trailing off. Cheerilee held her breath. “I wasn’t able to find a book for your teaching. I’m sorry.”
Cheerilee stepped back into the doorway. “Is that all?” The magenta pony let out her held breath in a nervous laugh. “You act like it’s some big problem. You don’t need to find one, I can work with what I have.”
“But I said I would help! I sent letters to every single textbook printer I could find out about, and every single one had nothing! Absolutely nothing! You’d think there’d be more out there about the different kinds of ponies! I just don’t understand why--”
In the middle of Twilight’s rant, Cheerilee cut her off. “Twilight. What’s that?” she asked, pointing to a spot of gold light over her friend’s horn.
“Huh? Oh, just a letter. Probably another rejection. Hold on.” A short burst of lavender magic, and the spot of light expanded into a circle before resolving itself into a scroll. Seeing the seal holding the letter shut, Twilight said, “I think I might accept that invitation to come in, if you don’t mind.”
Cheerilee stepped to the side once again, allowing Twilight to enter and sit down on the couch. She unrolled the scroll and skimmed through it, eyes becoming wider by the second.
“Twilight, is everything alright?” Cheerilee asked.
“This... this letter is from Princess Celestia.” The teacher sat down across from Twilight. “As a sort of last resort, I sent her a letter asking for help, but... you might want to read this for yourself.” The unicorn levitated the letter over onto the table between them. Cheerilee leaned over and began to read.
My faithful student,
I followed up on your letter, and sent my own to the Royal Canterlot Archives, and was informed that the company that initially published the book in question had gone out of business before a second edition of their textbook could be finished.
So, in lieu of your report on the governmental systems of ponies in the Badlands, you may, if you wish, finish the second edition of Ponies Big and Small, to be submitted to the Equestrian Education Board. With their approval, we shall send your book to print, and use it for the curriculum for the next school year.
It is entirely up to you, but I recommend speaking with the teacher. Between her knowledge of the basic educational method throughout Equestria, and your mind, the two of you could make a textbook that would not need revision for some time.
Take your time, and reply back to me with your answer.
Princess Celestia
Cheerilee looked up into the anxious face of Twilight. “Well,” the magenta pony said, “what do you want to do?”
“Well, would you like to write it with me?”
Hmm, Cheerilee thought, The new book would be great, and being able to work with Twilight even better... “Sure.”
Twilight smiled, and flipped over the letter.
Dear Princess Celestia,
We’ll do it.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
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Why one chapter in three weeks? Three chapters in one week is way more efficent.
What 2313918 said.
2313918>>2314604
Yeah, other fics and school projects kind of got in the way...
2314252
Technically, I do a chapter a week, just not for this story.
Enjoying the rewrite so far! One thing of note, though, is Twilight never told Celestia the name of the book in her letter.
2316478
.............
It got lost in editing....
2315381 that is still not three chapters a week which would still be three times as effective.
2317685
And would also cause me to lose my mind.
2317688 that is a necesarry sacrifice.
2317691
You read the original right? That's what happens when I focus on speed instead of quality. Never again.
2317694 no no no, you got it all wrong. it is speed, quality and sanity; chose two. in the first you sacrificed quality, but what i am suggesting is sacrificing your sanity.
2317708
I still need that.
2317711 shush, we can be concerned about that later.
P.S you really should be writing right now.
2317714
I am, just not for this story.
2317716 you can start working on the three chapters a week goal.
2317727
A chapter a week, maybe two, tops. And not all for the same story
2317730 i have to make a profit here, the lowest i can go is 2.32 chapters a week.
2317736
If you're turning a profit, I have to ask for a cut. It is my hard work, after all.
2317740 you can have some appreciation. i'll consider giving you a 12% increase in praise if you keep up the good work.
2317745
...Fine. I'll just keep embezzling from your slush fund, I suppose.
This is very good. I look forward to reading more of this. You've definitely improved since you originally wrote it.
2317887
Lots of practice, and help with more experience.
2317904 Lots and lots of help.
And sorry I missed the part with the book...
How on earth does a curriculum equestria wide mandatory book go out of buisness xD especially since its apparantly still in print and has no competition for the past however many it was years xD
2325542
That's just the thing. They had no competition, so they didn't print a second book, so they weren't making any money, so they went out of business.
Or the Equestrian Cartel ran them out of business. Your choice.
2374913 Trust me, your opinion is never unwanted. Elfy here is one of your biggest fans, and he goes nuts over you, in a good way.
He is going to kill me for this comment...
Love ya, elfy!
2374913
So... Awesome...
*ahem* so, right, yeah. Glad to see you finally got around to this. And yeah, critiques are nice, especially from someone who knows what they're doing. The only real thing I want to say here is about the formal language. Right around the time I started updating this, I was editing research papers for people, and it kind of bled through a little bit, a little bit might just be my writing style, I tend to kind of just flow almost with my train of thoughts. Looking forward to your thoughts on the rest of the project.
2374941
I'm getting my ass kicking shoe. You're fucked.
2374947
It appears a word is missing from this sentence.
Other than that, great writing! I am enjoying it immensely.
Lavender Unicorn Syndrome.
Repetitive word choice.
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I think the mail delivery system is an interesting concept, though I think it costs Derpy and Spike a job
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Mostly just a lot of Lavender Unicorn Syndrome in Chapter 4, not worth its own comment.
We're three chapters and 7k words in, and I still have no idea what is wrong or "outdated" about the book, or even what it's about. It's getting really annoying.
4101817
I don't know, either, but it brings to mind the Government textbooks we had when I was in high school. We had to learn about the President (Reagan, his first term), the Soviet Union, etc. Problem is, I took the class in 1995.