> What is a Dream
>  by Silver Page
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Gold and Silver
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Down a long, opulent hall lined with statues, an elderly Earth Pony trotted towards a large set of double doors that were engraved with designs of books and scrolls. He pushed open the doors with one hoof while balancing a pile of old tomes on his back, and entered the expansive shelves of the Canterlot Royal Library and Archives. Carefully, he made his way over to a writing table already weighed down with other books, and slid the tomes off his back. He stretched, and picked up an ink stained quill, ready to write, when he stopped, sensing a presence. 
“My lady, how may I help you?” The Earth Pony turned around and bowed deeply to a nearby bookshelf. 
“Perceptive as always, Silver Page.” Stepping into the lamp light of the library was a tall and majestic Alicorn, whose mane was like a flowing rainbow of light. An open book hovered by her head, held in place by her horn’s magic. 
“Yes, I do have something I’d like your help with.” Carefully, Princess Celestia lowered her book onto a nearby end table, and walked over to the still kneeling librarian. “Please rise, old friend. You do not need to bow to me.”
Slowly, Silver Page rose, joints creaking with his old age. He settled into a more comfortable position and looked up at Princess Celestia as she took a seat on a nearby couch.
“Old habits are hard to break, your Majesty. And I would be honored to help in any way I can.” Nodding, Celestia smiled at the Master Librarian.
“Thank you, Silver Page. I need you to go to the Crystal Empire. Their library is supposedly full of many old and valuable books, and I’d like you to catalog them. I do believe there will be some that even you have not read.” Silver Page grinned, his eyes sparkling at the chance to study the vast collection. 
“I did hear that from Twilight Sparkle when she was here last. I shall prepare to leave in a day or so, your Majesty.” Silver Page took a long look around the library, and sighed wearily. “It has been rather empty since your student left, Princess Celestia. I’d like her to read some of my most recent magical studies, give them some critique.” Silver Page smiled with his happy memories, and looked out the stained glass windows into the night sky. 
“Things have changed, haven’t they? Your sister’s return, Discord running amok, that incident with the Changelings, and now a long lost culture resurfaced. It almost feels…”
“It feels just like when you were younger, doesn’t it, Silver Page?”  He gave a mischievous grin, and Princess Celestia stood up.
“I must go now. Have a pleasant evening and a safe trip.” Silver Page nodded absentmindedly, and looked over at the book Celestia had been reading when he’d come in. It was a journal, detailing the exploits of a dashing adventurer who uncovered many lost treasures and secrets, fighting monsters along the way. In it was a faded photograph of a much younger Silver Page, standing triumphant with the relics of the Horned Ones at his feet. He chuckled softly as Celestia’s hoofsteps faded in the distance. 

“Now, I am not saying that the pie was the size of my head, my good friend, but that it was the size of yours!” A chorus of childish laughter accompanied this proclamation, and an Earth Pony with a pale blue coat and silvery mane jumped up onto a nearby park bench, the crowd of young fillies and colts hanging on his every word. “Have you ever seen a ninety year old stallion eat a pie? I have! It was crazy, he stuck his whole muzzle into the pastry, and the filling went flying everywhere! At one point a glob of apples smacked in the face, but it was actually his dentures! He was so wild with his feast, he lost his teeth! That, or the teeth ran away scared, afraid he’d eat them too!” Children laughed even harder now, and a few rolled about in the grass as they hooted with amusement. 
“Did this really happen?” A filly Unicorn asked, eyes wide.
“Sure did, little Jolly Jump! And when it was finished, we didn’t even have to clean the plate, ‘cause he licked it clean! We washed it though to get rid of the saliva he left behind.” More laughter and the pony basked in it. 
“Silver Tongue! What are you doing?!” the party atmosphere broke as a pale brown Unicorn with a golden mane stomped in. 
“Oh, hi, Gold Dust, I was…” 
“You were supposed to be at the library with grandfather! But when I arrive, I find that you hadn’t shown up! So here I am, to take you back!” A nimbus of gold appeared around Gold Dust’s horn, and Silver Tongue was yanked off the bench by the ear, and dragged magically away. A cry went up from the assembled children, but Silver Tongue smiled at them.
“Well kids, that’s all for today! Next time I’ll tell you about the picnic that Gold Dust made! Spoilers, there were a lot of upset stomachs!” 
After a while, Gold Dust let go of Silver Tongue, and he walked behind her as she fumed and ranted.
“…and if you are going to go telling children some crazy stories, at least tell them stories that are informative and clever, not overblown exaggerations! Honestly, Silver Tongue, if you…”
“Hey there! You look lovely today, my dear. Did you do something to your mane?” Gold Dust stopped dead in her tracks, and spun around to see that Silver Tongue was no longer following behind her, and was instead hitting on a mare that was out shopping. He leaned up against a wall, and was putting on his moves. “You and I should go out for a bite to eat sometime. Maybe a nice little café, some candles, and…”
Magic crackled around Gold Dust’s horn and Silver Tongue went flying, crashing to the ground next to the irritated unicorn. Muttering under her breath, Gold Dust dragged the prone Silver Tongue away, while a rightly confused mare shrugged and walked off. 
“I can’t leave you alone for more than a few minutes, can I?! Honestly, you cause more trouble than should be possible!” she stamped her hoof angrily as her cousin rolled around on the street, still trapped in her magic.
“Is that a challenge, Gold Dust? If you want, I’ll test your theory.” Silver Tongue was lifted up and tossed in a heap in front of the train station. “Ow! Watch it, GD! Sheesh, you don’t have to be so angry all the time. All I did was some harmless sweet talking!”
“Harmless? Like the time you hit on that mare from Manehatten who turned out to be a fashion model, and got mugged by her fans? Or the time you flirted with that griffon, who turned out to be a guy and knocked out your front teeth? Or more recently, where you got chased out of the museum for feeling up the participants of the Living Sculpture exhibit?”
“I told you, the museum was an accident! I tripped on something!” Silver Tongue protested as he got off the ground, rubbing his ribs where he had landed. Gold Dust snorted in disbelief and headed over to a pile of luggage and started loading it onto a train that was waiting. Sighing, Silver Tongue trotted over as well and loaded the rest of the bags into the storage compartment. 
“So, why are we doing this? This seems like a lot of stuff just for gramps.”
“We are accompanying him to the Crystal Empire, remember? He told us yesterday. Or were you eyeing the royal maids again?” Silver smiled and winked at a mare who passed by.
“No comment, GD.” A hoofbag smacked Silver Tongue up the side of his head, and he turned to a fuming Gold Dust who huffed and went into the train. With a groan, Silver Tongue picked it up and followed her inside.

In the train, Gold Dust was already seated next to a dark brown Earth Pony whose mane was silver and curled with age. An open book was his Cutie Mark, and his eyes shone with excitement. 
“Gramps! How ya doing?” Silver Tongue went over and sat across from Gold Dust and the elderly Silver Page. Silver Page smiled when he saw his grandson, and leaned back to enjoy the train ride.
“I am well, Silver Tongue. I am looking forward to exploring the Crystal Empire, and learning its history and culture,” Silver Page said. He rummaged around in a satchel bag and removed an old book from it.
“There is very little that is known about the Empire. It was lost long ago and was isolated due to being beyond the Crystal Mountains even before that. Founded by Earth Ponies, they apparently mastered the use of magical crystals to survive in such a cold wasteland…” As Silver Page rambled on, Silver Tongue began to doze off, while Gold Dust listened eagerly to her grandfather’s notes and lecture. 
“Wake up, Silver Tongue! We’ve arrived!”
“Wha?! No, I was just resting my eyes…” jolted back to wakefulness by his grandfather’s excited voice, Silver Tongue rolled over on the train seat and yawned, easing himself up to look out the window. Beyond the glass, vast plains of ice and snow rolled by. The sunlight was dipping beyond the horizon, and the vivid red dusk was thrown across the landscape by the countless ice crystals. It was breathe taking, and Silver Tongue had no glib remarks for it. Gold Dust, looking out, was also suitably impressed and made little gasps of wonder as it rolled by. Their grandfather kept glancing back from the scene to a notebook he was scribbling notes into, trying to capture the vista best he could in words, but the look of awe in his eyes told that even he thought it was impossible.
“It has been a long time since I was up North. I never got to see the wide, open plains of the Frozen Lands because there was nothing to see, though. No cities or ruins, just lots of cold. I guess I was missing out,” Silver Page said, Gold Dust and Silver Tongue nodding in agreement. 
“We will be arriving in the Crystal Empire in five minutes. Please watch your luggage and do not mix it up with other passengers’ items. Also, please be aware that the station has not been finished yet, and thus we will stop out in the tundra. It is very cold, so dress appropriately. I repeat; it is cold, dress warm.” The conductor looked around the coach, eyeing each passenger, and making sure they had heard him. Most of the passengers were ponies sent by Princess Celestia to investigate the Crystal Empire and assess the situation. From construction workers who would work on the tracks, to legal experts who would try to integrate the nation into the rest of Equestria, all sorts were on board. 
After a bit, the conductor leaves, and the train starts to slow down, eventually coming to a halt with a blast of steam and the grinding of gears.
“Huh. The tundra. Sounds romantic. Wonder if it’s a good place for a date?” Silver Tongue mused aloud. Gold Dust and Silver Page roll their eyes, while smiling a bit at his cluelessness. 

“So, on a scale from one to ten, how romantic was it, Silver Tongue?” Gold Dust asked as she shook some snow off her scarf once they were within the area of warmth that was the border to the Crystal Empire.
“I c,can’t f,feel my fl,flank…” Silver Tongue said his mouth numb with cold and the rest of him covered in heaps of snow. Behind him was a sled full of their luggage, also covered in snow that Gold Dust magicked away. Silver Tongue pulled it a few feet further before he collapsed, tired from dragging it through the snow drifts.
“The conductor did say it would be chilly,” Silver Page said, grinning despite himself. 
“No, gramps. I have been chilly. That was not chill. That was colder than the look a mare gives me after shooting down my sweet talking. That was colder than being tossed in the ice stores at the palace after I accidentally walked in on some royal maids changing uniforms. What I just experienced was pure, utter, frozenness. Not sure if that is a word, but it fits the description.” Silver Page shook off the snow on his back bitterly, while Gold Dust raised an eyebrow.
“What was this about maids and their uniforms?” Silver Tongue stopped mid shake, an expression of ‘I just walked off the edge’ on his face, then quickly trotted off towards the city without a word. Gold Dust glared after him while Silver Page laughed heartily. 
“I think I remember that. Shining Armor had to thaw him out with his magic when we found him…” With a disgusted exclamation of “Boys!” Gold Dust trotted off to follow her cousin, and make sure he didn’t do anything stupid.

“Hello Silver Page! Oh, it has been ages! How are you? Was the train ride comfortable? I’m sorry to have you come out so far to help us.” In the main hall of the Crystal Palace Silver Page and his grandchildren were heartily greeted by Princess Cadence while Shining Armor clapped them on the backs.
“It’s a pleasure to see you as well, my dear. Not since the wedding, I believe. Are you adjusting to married life? How about with management of the city?” the trio was led through the halls to the guest rooms as they talked, with Silver Page looking around at the artifacts as he spoke with Cadence. 
“I am quite happy in both aspects, Silver Page. It was challenging for a bit, but now that the Crystal Heart is working properly, all is well. By the way, Twilight said she found a use for the Gravity Magic you taught her a while back.” At the mention of Twilight, Gold Dust grimaced slightly, but quickly reasserted her composure. Only Silver Tongue noticed the expression, and frowned with concern. 
“Here are your rooms. We can go over what to do in the morning, so you three just relax tonight,” Shining Armor said, handing out three keys to the pony guests. “And don’t wander around too much Silver Tongue. I’d hate to have to defrost you again.” Shining Armor and Silver Page shared a laugh at Silver Tongue’s embarrassment, which was increased by Princess Cadence looking away politely while blushing and Gold Dust huffing.

Later that night, Silver Tongue crept out of his room, and knocked a hoof on Gold Dust’s door. After a moment, a muffled “Enter!” was called out, and Silver Tongue slipped into his cousin’s room.
“What’s up, Silver Tongue?” Gold Dust was reclining on her bed, lifting a brush with her magic and combing her hair, despite the fact that it kept on curling up after each stroke. Silver Tongue closed the door behind him and trotted over to the bed, hopping on to sit next to her. He was silent for a while, than he plucked the brush from the air.
“Let me, GD. I know how to do your hair better than you.” Gold Dust gave a nod, and Silver Tongue started to go over her golden mane with careful movements.
“Reminds me of when we were foals, and I forced you to play dress up with me.” 
“Hey, its thanks to all those dresses you made me wear I now know how to compliment the ladies on their attire.” Gold Dust chuckled, and Silver Tongue joined in. They were silent for a bit, and then Silver Tongue broached the topic that had brought him over.
“You know you don’t have to be jealous, right? Of Twilight Sparkle, I mean.” Gold Dust went still, and Silver Tongue flinched, braced for a smack or hit, but was surprised when Gold Dust just sighed.
“Of course I know that, Silver Tongue! But I get so frustrated when grandpa talks about her with other ponies. Yes, she’s brilliant, a wiz with magic and the personal student of Princess Celestia. Oh, and saved Equestria three times!”
“Actually, I think it might be four now, what with the whole Crystal Empire and banishing of King Sombra and so on…” belatedly, Silver Tongue realized his blunder, but Gold Dust kept on talking regardless.
“Exactly! But Silver Page was teaching me magic way before he met Twilight Sparkle! Sure, he taught me, and still does teach me, but it’s not the same. Why, last week, I wanted to practice some spells from one of his adventures, but he took the book out of my hooves and put it away, saying it was too difficult for me!”
“Well, gramps has done more research on that stuff than you, so he must know best.”
“But how does he know? Maybe I’d be a master at that kind of magic! It’s high level, sure, but why can’t I try! He doesn’t trust me like he does Twilight. He taught her Gravity Magic before he taught me!” Silver Tongue put down the brush and nuzzled against Gold Dust’s mane, comforting her. 
“He doesn’t want to hurt you, GD. You know that, I know that. He cares about you, and doesn’t want to put too much strain on you, or cause something to harm you. It’s like he says, there is more than one way to cast magic, and more than one way to mess it up.” Gold Dust sighed, and nuzzled Silver Tongue in return. 
“Yeah, you’re right.” Silver Tongue stood up and hopped off the bed and headed to door. As he left his cousin’s room, she softly said “Thank you,” and he smiled back at her.
“Pleasant dreams, GD.” The door closed, and Silver Tongue yawned, tired. He was about to go back to his room, when he saw a maid pass by the hallway. 
“Well, I could go to sleep, or…” Silver Tongue gave it a record five seconds of thought, before heading out to talk to her.
“Wow, your coat is beautiful! Such shine! Does it glow in the dark too?”

> A New Realm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Does it glow in the dark? Really?”
“Hey, at least I didn’t get frozen this time!”
“Oh, and being shoved head-first through an ornamental hedge-bush is an improvement?”
“Yes, especially because it doesn’t have thorns!” It was early the next morning, and Gold Dust had only just woken up when she heard her cousin’s voice calling for help. Except that it was coming from outside her window, and on inspection, found Silver Tongue stuck in a dragon shaped bush. Sighing, she made her way down to the garden, and found Shining Armor already there laughing his flank off. While Gold Dust nagged Silver Tongue, Shining Armor began to try and remove the hapless earth pony from the branches. 
“Honestly, what did Shining Armor say about hitting on the maids?”
“…Do it all the time?” With a sound of snapping twigs, Silver Tongue was thrown out of the hedge, and sprawled out on the soft grass of the garden. “Still, oddly enough, I had a really good sleep in there. Like I was one with nature.”
“You were one with nature. Head first, with your legs sticking out and flailing wildly,” Shining Armor commented, and that got a laugh out of both him and Silver Tongue. Gold Dust sighed wearily, already tired despite having just woken up. 
“I’m going to find some breakfast. I need some coffee to clear my head after all this,” Gold Dust said, as she trotted off back to the castle.
“Sure thing! Kitchen is on the second floor! Once you’re done, you can meet up with Silver Page and Cadence at the library!” 
“He already left?” Silver Tongue asked, rolling onto his hooves and standing up.
“Indeed, couldn’t wait to get started,” Shining Armor confirmed.

“I can’t wait to get started!” Silver Page was practically bouncing up and down, his enthusiasm was so strong. He gazed lovingly at the vast array of books before him, while behind him Princess Cadence stood with the librarian and shared a grin.
“Do you have a card catalog I can look over? I should try to see if Canterlot has any duplicates of your books, so I can cut down on the number I’ll have to go over…”
“Yes, we do have card catalogs you can browse. Everything should be in order still, since King Sombra closed the library and forbid anypony to read.” The look of shock on Silver Page’s face must have been sensed, so the librarian explained. “There aren’t any unicorns in the Crystal Empire, except King Sombra, of course. Still, he was afraid somepony might find a way to counter his magic with our crystals or some other method, so he banned books and sealed this place in a barrier. I hadn’t been inside since I returned, a thousand years later…” the librarian went off to look for the card catalogs, and Silver Page’s enthusiasm was muted a bit by this revelation. Cadence coughed politely to get his attention.
“I am heading back to the castle now. I assume your grandponies will be awake by now, so I’ll direct them over here after a while.”
“Oh, no need for that, your Majesty. I’ll just be looking over the book directories and lists today, so I won’t need them for anything. Let them explore the city and see the sights; if they learn about it firsthoof it might be helpful.” Cadence nodded, and headed out.
“Oh, and if Silver Tongue is still stuck in that hedge, could you get somepony to remove him, please?” Silver Page called out, an afterthought. Cadence stopped mid step, and looked over inquiringly, but then shock her head. It was Silver Tongue after all.

“Really, a free day?” Gold Dust asked, looking up from a hearty breakfast as Princess Cadence retold Silver Pages words. 
“Indeed. You two should explore the city and see the sights. He thinks it will be beneficial, and I agree. Myself and Shining Armor have not had a lot of time to explore, so this would also help us as well.” At the table, Silver Tongue and Gold Dust were seated alongside Shining Armor, and the dwindling remains of breakfast were being cleared out already by the staff. Silver Tongue nodded thoughtfully.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll go on ahead, and you can catch up later, GD!” He said, and tried to leave, but found himself stuck to the chair. 
“Not going to happen, Silver Tongue. I can’t let you wander out there on your own. You’ll just cause trouble. Like this morning.”
“Technically, I caused the trouble last night, and only got free this morning,” Silver Tongue began, but shut up as he saw Gold Dust’s scowling face. “Fine, okay, we’ll go together!”
“Good. We’ll leave in a few minutes,” Gold Dust said, brushing off her mouth with a napkin. “It’ll be fun!”

“This place is amazing! Look at the architecture! And the materials! Such shine and luster! What a sight!” Gold Dust exclaimed as she bounced about, staring at the buildings in wonder. Behind her, Silver Tongue looked around as well, but his gaze was on the mares. He occasionally winked at some of them, but moved on quickly when their husband or stallion-friend caught him looking. The Crystal Ponies that were out looked at the spectacle with a mix of amusement and bewilderment. It had been a long time since anypony had visited, and none had dared venture near when King Sombra was in power.
After a while, Gold Dust led Silver Tongue into the central market, following the smooth, glass like streets. It was a beautiful array of portable stalls and carts that were placed near larger buildings that housed the stores. Here was the largest gathering of Crystal Ponies either had so far seen, and it was an impressive sight. Soon, Gold Dust was completely absorbed in it all, and this distraction allowed Silver Tongue to have more freedom for flirting.
By the end of the first hour in the market, Silver Tongue was feeling like himself again. Sure, he had been splashed with water a few times by annoyed mares, tripped and pushed into hedges by more mares who thought he was less than charming, and been forced to run off when a mare had indeed thought he was handsome, but their friend, usually an angry stallion, had convinced Silver Tongue to back away, but all in all, it was good to be back in his element. Now that he had wooed the mares, he wandered off to see if there were any fillies and colts who might like a funny story.
“Mister, are you from outside?” Silver Tongue was jolted from his revelries by a slight hooftap on his hind legs, and he looked down to see a group of foals looking back up at him in wonder.  
“Uh, yes?” Silver Tongue replied, bewildered. The foals gasp in wonder, big smiles on their muzzles. 
“Wow! What’s it like outside? Are there lots of trees?”
“Do you eat rocks?”
“What is that big iron snaked called?”
“Why aren’t you shiny? Are you sick?”
“Can I have a hug?” 
All at once, the excited children began to talk, pelting him with questions. Silver Tongue held up his hooves for silence. Immediately, the children settled down, but kept staring at him in wide eyed awe.
“Yes, no, a train, I am not sick, and of course, you can have a hug,” Silver Tongue said, leaning down and giving the filly a squeeze. The children started clamoring again at this, and Silver Tongue grinned. “One at a time, kids! One at a time!” 
By the time lunch rolled around, there was a sizable crowd surrounding him. It was full of not just foals, but a number of adult Crystal Ponies had gravitated towards him as well, and Silver Tongue’s tales brought out chuckles and guffaws alike. 
“Does this Princess Celestia really raise the sun and moon? Seems like a lot of trouble,” one of the Crystal Stallions asked. A lot of the adults had questions about the affairs of the world since they’d been gone, and as somepony who knew enough, Silver Tongue was besieged. 
“Well, yes, though her sister Princess Luna raises the moon now. They do it in order to prevent otherponies from using magic to control night and day, so it’s fair and evenly distributed.” 
“Is this Equestria truly a free and fair nation? When we were around, it was hardly anything, and we heard rumors of some spirit of chaos running amok.”
“Certainly! Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns all live in harmony! Sure, there is some division, but everything is still really great! My cousin is a Unicorn, I should know!” Silver Tongue boasted, and the adults all ooed and awed and muttered to one another. After a while, a new barrage of questions came out, and Silver Tongue had to take a few steps back as the grown-ups crowded close. 
“LOOK OVER THERE!” Silver Tongue shouted, pointing at the castle, and as one, the mares and stallions all looked away. At that moment, all the foals burst forth from the encircling adults, and ran off, Silver Tongue following behind in their wake. “Ohlookatthetimegottogobye!” A moment later, the coast was clear, and the group stopped running and hid in an alleyway.
“Thanks, kids! You were a big help!” Silver Tongue said, patting a colt on the head in praise.
“No problem, Mister! Wanna play later?” Silver Tongue nodded at the invitation, and the children ran off laughing.
“Sweet little guys,” Silver Tongue said, finally catching his breath. He was about to leave the alleyway, when he heard a soft giggle behind him. He went still, afraid one of the obnoxiously pushy questioning adults had found him, but when he looked, all he saw was a young Crystal Mare.
She was lovely, with a soft pink coat and light green mane streaked with pale blue. She wore a long, dark blue cape that looked like silk, and it covered most of her flank while leaving her shoulders and front legs open to the air. It was fastened around her neck by a thick white ribbon, with a small white rucksack on her back filled with books. The cape rustled softly in the breeze, and she moved as the fabric shifted. She shone with light, the sun reflecting off her crystal like coat, and Silver Tongue’s brain stopped working. He had never seen anypony like her. His jaw moved, but no words came out. The young mare giggled again, a soft, warm sound.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it. When I saw those foals having fun, I was reminded of the old days. My father used to love playing with them.” At this, a flicker of sadness blazed in her eyes, but came and went so fast that Silver Tongue wasn’t sure he’d really seen it. “I’m sorry to have bothered you, mister…?”
“Silver Tongue!” He replied, louder than he’d meant, and the mare smiled at his awkward expression.
“A pleasure meeting you, Silver Tongue. Have  nice day.” With that, she sauntered off, leaving a stunned Earth Pony behind her. 
A few minutes later, Gold Dust peeked her head into the small path, and sighed as she found her cousin. A picnic basket was strapped to her back, and a tantalizing aroma filled the tiny space.
“There you are, Silver Tongue! Why did you wander off like that?” Gold Dust stomped angrily over to her slack jawed cousin, and nudged him with her hoof. He snapped back to his senses at her touch, and he looked around sheepishly. 
“Oh! Hey there GD! When did you get here?”
“Just now, you drooling stallion! What were you doing back here?” Silver Tongue opened his mouth to speak, but Gold Dust raised a hoof to his face. “Don’t tell me, I probably don’t want to know! Anyways, I’m heading over to the library now to take grandfather some lunch. You should come with me, so you don’t get lost again.” Clearly not going to take no for an answer, Gold Dust led Silver Tongue out into the streets and towards the library. 
They made it there without too much trouble, Silver Tongue being spoken to and complimented and apologized to, which was a novelty for Gold Dust. Usually, she was the one who apologized for her brother, not other ponies apologize to him!
“What exactly happened while I was gone?” Gold Dust asked when they were in front of the library. 
“Eh, not much. A few mares, a few stallions, I play with a few foals, and I almost get mobbed by more mares and stallions. Typical Wednesday,” Silver Tongue said nonchalantly as the large double doors were pushed open.
“Oh? I thought that was a typical Friday?” Gold Dust mocked, and Silver Tongue chuckled good naturedly.
“Nah, Fridays I get mugged only by mares. I can see how that might confuse you.” Laughing, the two entered the majestic library of the Crystal Empire, and once their mirth died down did they stare in wonder at the surroundings.
“Sweet Celestia, I’ve never seen anything like this! The books are glowing! Literally!” 
“Helps for reading in the dark, I bet,” Silver Tongue said, recovering his wits to crack a poor joke. Gold Dust rolled her eyes, and the two quickly found Silver Page. He was practically buried in books and scrolls, making copious notes of everything he read, and already had filled several notebooks of his own, by the looks of things.
“Grandfather, we brought lunch!” Gold Dust called out, and Silver Page looked up, removing a pair of spectacles as his grandchildren approached. 
“Lunchtime already? Huh. In any case, take a look at this! I found a mint condition ‘Universal Purpose,’ one of Star Swirl the Bearded’s first every books on philosophy! Totally boring, but still!” Silver Page was burning with his passion, and his grandchildren smiled, quickly being absorbed into their grandfather’s pace.
“Excuse me, sir? Um, I’d like to check out that book you’re sitting on.” A soft voice cut into their conversation, one that was very familiar to Silver Tongue. He looked over and saw the Crystal Mare from before, standing awkwardly near the towering pile of books his grandfather was in.
“Oh! Sorry about that! Here, let me…ah! There you go, one copy of Ploto’s ‘Theory of Words!’ Bit boring, if you ask me. Here, try this one too!” Silver Page reached into one of his rucksacks and pulled out a copy of Daring Doo and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone. It was a worn, battered copy, and signed by the author. Silver Page was very fond of it, but he loved letting ponies read just as much.
“Oh, I couldn’t! I mean, it looks very important…” the mare nervously took a step back, unsure of how to proceed.
“By all means, take it! See how far writing has come in the time you’ve been gone. You won’t be disappointed,” Silver Page said, offering both books to her. 
“Alright, then. I’ll be sure to return it soon.” She took the books and placed them in her now empty rucksack, and as she prepared to leave, she noticed Silver Tongue standing nearby.
“Oh, hello again! Are you three here together?”
“Yes! I mean, this is my grandfather Silver Page, and my cousin Gold Dust,” Silver Tongue said, nervously indicating his family. The mare took a step back in shock as she saw Gold Dust’s horn, and quickly looked away, embarrassed.
“I’m Gem Swirl. Pleased to meet you all. Um, I have to go now,” she said, and hastily retreated out of the library. 
“What was that all about?” Gold Dust asked, indignant, self-consciously touching her horn after Gem Swirl’s reaction. Silver Page looked confused as well, while Silver Tongue just stood there.
“Please don’t mind her, dear. Gem Swirl has more reason than most to be afraid of Unicorns,” The librarian said, appearing from beyond a stack of books.
“Why?” Silver Page asked, curious. The librarian hesitated, but finally spoke. 
“Gem Swirl was hurt very badly by King Sombra during his reign. Out of all of us, she suffered the most.”
“How so?” Silver Tongue asked, worried.
“She was King Sombra’s wife.” The revelation was startling, and the trio of outsiders gaped at the Crystal librarian. 
“It wasn’t her choice, mind you! Her father was the younger brother to the previous King, and the commander of our defenses. When King Sombra attacked, Gem Swirl’s father, Sword Swirl, was the last one to retreat, and the first one to be publicly executed.” The librarian looked down as the horrible memories returned, but she quickly rallied. “Next was her mother, her uncle the King, her aunt the Queen, and her cousin, Prince Glory. In front of the whole city that monster had them executed, and he forced Gem Swirl not just to watch, but to do it herself! I won’t tell you how, but it still haunts me. Gem Swirl was forced into marriage, even though she was only eleven years old! For over ten years she suffered his wrath, and she tried to help us when possible. But she was scarred by King Sombra, mentally as well as physically. When he was banished, she was hiding in a safe house we had made for her, a place he could not locate with his magic. She didn’t see him destroyed, but she felt it. And when she wakes up, the next thing she knows, a thousand years has gone by!” 
The librarian’s voice had risen steadily, and the more she explained, the more an invisible weight was lifted from her shoulders. By the time she was done, she was panting with the effort, and her audience was shocked silent. Silver Page recovered first, and looked at his grandchildren, concerned. 
“That must have been horrible. I can’t image such a fate,” he said softly, and pressed a hoof softly against a faded scar on his right shoulder. Gold Dust looked shocked as well, and shared a sad expression with Silver Tongue, who had one mirrored on his own face.
“Nopony blames her for what happened during his rule, but she has refused the offer to move into her old home. She still lives in the safe house, near the outskirts. I don’t think she can ever leave. What Sombra did was too cruel,” the librarian explained, hoping to dispel any possible doubts her listeners might have about the Crystal Ponies and their opinion on Gem Swirl. “She only comes into the city for books and food, and rarely stays long.”
“I see. I hope she can overcome her pain one day, but I know that such agonies may never leave,” Silver Page said at length, and turned to Gold Dust.
“I’m not feeling too hungry right now. Why don’t you share with Silver Tongue and the librarian?” He turned back to his work, and the cousins shared a look. When Silver Page got like this, he was hard to budge.
“Okay, gramps. Have fun,” Silver Tongue said, and escorted Gold Dust and the librarian to an unused table.

“Welcome to the Crystal Empire! Please watch your step, and be careful on the ice. It is cold, so be warned.” The conductor of the train called out a final warning, and the pony passengers got off at the temporary station. One of them, a Unicorn with a bugling pack on his back, wore a black, hooded cloak, which covered his rust red coat. His horn crackled in the frost as warmth spells were cast. He looked at the shining spires and towers of the Crystal Empire, and gave a cruel smile.
“Hello again, Silver Page. Guess what? I’m back,” the Unicorn said to himself, and chuckled darkly as he trudged through the snow.

> Dream Drink
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The air was nice and warm as Gem Swirl headed back to her home. The sun was bright, but didn’t reflect too harshly off the other Crystal Ponies. And for some reason, her heart was lighter than it had been in a while. She didn’t understand why, but it had all started when she’d had seen the pale blue Earth Pony. He was one of the newcomers, an envoy of the mysterious southern empire of Equestria. There had been a lot of them recently, ever since that strange and beautiful new pony had arrived. Her name was Princess Cadence, she recalled, and was an Alicorn. Such a pony! So mysterious and regal! When Princess Cadence had returned after vanquishing King Sombra, Gem Swirl had been called to the palace, and had an audience with her. The Princess and her husband, a handsome stallion named Shining Armor, had offered Gem Swirl the position of leadership for the Crystal Empire. Another princess, named Celestia, had wanted Cadence to rule this new territory, but after learning about Gem Swirl’s pedigree and lineage, had wanted to speak with her first.
“Are you sure? We don’t want you to feel belittled or forced to abdicate. You can be the leader of the Crystal Empire, and we won’t speak of this again.” Cadence had sat at the foot of the throne, while Gem Swirl was forced to take her seat on the magnificent dais. Shining Armor stood next to his wife, and both looked up at her.
“This never was my home to begin with. Uncle Honor and Aunt Regal were the rulers. I never wanted to take their place, and I do not plan to.” She stood up from the throne and descended the stairs to face Princess Cadence. 
“This place has too many painful memories for me, too many ghosts. It was a prison I could not escape, not even in my dreams. King Sombra made sure of that.” Gem Swirl looked back at the throne and shivered, holding back tears. “You may rule this place, because I have no desire to. If a treaty in writing would help, that is fine. I want nothing to do with it.” Cadence and Shining Armor shared a look, but the princess simply nodded.
“Very well then, Miss Gem Swirl. We will respect your wishes, and I shall let Princess Celestia know all this.” Princess Cadence rose and stood aside for Gem Swirl, who trotted out of the throne room and left the castle, never once looking back.
A chorus of childish laughter brought Gem Swirl back to the present. Looking over her shoulder, she saw a group of foals giggling and clapping as spinning tops and wind-up toys danced around them, and in the midst of it all was a Unicorn in a hooded black cloak. His coat, horn and mane were a strange red color, like rust on an old nail. His eyes were storm grey, and they watched the children calmly. There was no joy in his eyes, even though his mouth smiled, and he pulled toys and trinkets from a bulging carrying bag for the children to see. His horn would spark to life occasionally, magic the color of blood winding up his contraptions or spinning off his tops. The children were oblivious to the false expression he wore, and gathered around with excited cries.	
“Easy now, children! I have toys for everyone!” The Unicorn said, and indeed, he pulled out more little gifts and play things. By this point, a number of adults has gathered nearby as well, and were paying for the toys their foals clamored for. The mysterious salestallion accepted the Crystal Empire bits with a smile as empty as any Gem Swirl had ever seen, but none of the Crystal Ponies seemed to care, or even notice. At one point, his gaze swept the crowd, and his cold eyes landed on Gem Swirl. She balked, but he soon looked to others as they came to him.
Shivering, Gem Swirl continued back to her house at the edge of the city, deciding it was better not to get involved with that particular pony. She was halfway there when a voice called out to her.
“Your misery is quite a sight to see. Rarely have I witnessed such an aura.” Gem Swirl turned sharply, looking behind her to see the red Unicorn from earlier. 
“Why did you follow me? What do you want?” Gem Swirl asked, taking a step forward menacingly. The Unicorn backed off, raising his hooves in a placating gesture. 
“I mean no offense, my dear, just that I can see your sorrows and pain. You wear them unwillingly, and they burn bright, an aura the likes of which I rarely see.” He took a step forward, reaching into a smaller saddlebag at his side. Slowly, so she could see his every action, he pulled out a small, delicate glass bottle. It was a pale, opaque blue color, and some sort of liquid swished around inside. A fancy label adorned the front of it, though it was too far for Gem Swirl to read.
“This is a potion I brewed specifically for ponies like you, who have such agony in their past. A sleeping draught, it will fill your dreams with love and joy, and erase the callousness of your nightmares.” It was enveloped in the Unicorn’s blood red aura, and he placed it in front of Gem Swirl. The label read ‘Dream Drink: Consume before sleep and enjoy the dreams you deserve.’
“It is made from rainbows and moonlight, and brewed carefully to produce the finest sleeping aid in the world. A free sample, for a first time customer,” the Unicorn explained. Gem Swirl was still unconvinced, and she looked suspiciously at the mysterious peddler.
“Who are you?” She demanded, and he smiled widely with amusement. It was the first genuine emotion she had seen him display.
“I’m the Toymaker. Pleasant dreams!” The Unicorn trotted away, and Gem Swirl paused, before finally picking up the bottle and putting it in her bag with her books. As she resumed her trip back home, the red Unicorn smiled with malice in his heart, and thoughts full of pain.

“Welcome back, Silver Page! Did you have an enjoyable time at the library?” Shining Armor was in the main hall when Silver Page and his grandchildren returned to the castle. He had been talking with some of the maids, and one of them gave Silver Tongue a sharp look, while the rest looked disapprovingly at the target of her ire. Silver Tongue had the decency to look abashed, and the maids huffed off, leaving Shining Armor to greet the trio.
“It was enlightening, though I may have forgotten to eat lunch in all my passion,” Silver Page said, his words emphasized by a loud growling that came from his stomach. Shining Armor led them to the dining hall, which had been set up with a lavish feast. Princess Cadence sat at the head of the elongated table, apparently waiting for them, and grinned as her guests and husband entered.
“Please, have a seat, everypony! We have a wonderful dinner prepared for you tonight,” Cadence explained, waving a hoof which signaled the servers and waiters to enter. Silver Tongue sat beside Gold Dust, while Silver Page sat next to Shining Armor on the opposite side of the table. Massive platters and serving bowls were brought in with all kinds of delicacies, and Gold Dust stared at it all with drool starting to appear at the corners of her muzzle. Silver Tongue nudged his cousin, and she quickly adjusted her posture, while he snickered softly.
It seemed somepony had a cruel sense of humor that evening, as Silver Tongue was assigned the very mare he had hit on last night, which was how he’d ended up in a hedge. He was understandably nervous, and this amused the rest of the wait staff and his dinner partners.
“What sort of things did you find in the library, Silver Page?” Cadence inquired after a bit of small talk, and Silver Page nodded eagerly at the chance to reveal his finds.
“Where to start! The library has so many books I’ve never even dreamed of, and the books I have heard of are in such good condition! I found a copy of all of Shaky Spear’s plays, and they were uncensored, unabridged, unaltered masterworks!” Silver Page went on like this for a while, and his audience politely ate while nodding and saying “Oh?” and “How fascinating!” at regular intervals. 
“I also met Gem Swirl in the library today,” Silver Page eventually said, as if mentioning an off-hand curiosity. Some of the waiters fumbled to recover their hold on their dishes, and a few of them couldn’t quite hold in their gasps. Princess Cadence nodded sadly, while Shining Armor just looked concerned.
“She, um, did she say anything?” He asked after an awkward moment of silence. Silver Page shook his head.
“No, but the librarian was kind enough to enlighten us about her circumstances, wasn’t she, Silver Tongue?” Gold Dust said, stepping in for her grandfather and putting her cousin in an uncomfortable spot. Silver Tongue nodded wordlessly, not quite liking the looks his waitress was giving him.
“I suppose we should have said something about her sooner, Silver Page, and I apologize for not telling you anything. But her situation is rather…precarious,” Cadence said apologetically. “She wears her sorrows and pain close to her, like a shroud...” but Silver Page raised his hoof to forestall anything more.
“You do not need to say anything. If Celestia had wanted me to know, she’d have told me. My duties as Master Librarian do not require me to partake in the cat and mouse game of politics, nor do I wish to. But there are problems this will raise, legal and political, and I have already begun drafting some notes for Celestia so she can deal with them.” Silver Page took a long sip from his cup, the silence less strained than before.
“And on the subject of Miss Gem Swirl, you are wrong, Cadence. She does not wear her suffering like a shroud. She wears it like armor, and hides behind it, and uses it as her strength. She fears it as much as she needs it.” Silver Page unconsciously rubbed his right shoulder, feeling again the knotted flesh of his faded scar. 
The rest of the dinner passed by, mostly in silence, but a bit of levity did return near the dessert course. After all was done, and the dishes gathered up, Silver Tongue held back a yawn and the looks on his cousin and grandfather’s faces mirrored his own tiredness. They got up as made their way back to the rooms, excusing themselves from Princess Cadence’s presence, who simply nodded. As he was leaving, Silver Tongue noticed Shining Armor and his wife go off together, speaking softly. He shrugged. Wasn’t his business. He was heading towards the bathrooms when somepony grabbed him and pinned him to the wall. Yelping a bit in surprise, he looked down at the maid who had hovered near him all dinner. Eyes wide with fear, Silver Tongue wondered why she was mad this time.
“Okay, listen up! You stay quiet, and I don’t shove you into another hedge, got that?” the maid asked. Silver Tongue nodded quickly, lips pressed shut.
“Good. Now, I saw your expression during dinner when Lady Gem Swirl was mentioned. I could tell you have some sort of thing for her.” The maid leaned in close, and Silver Tongue pressed himself up against the wall as far as he could. 
“Don’t you dare even think of hitting on her, understood? She’s had more than enough pain in her life, and she does not need some play-stallion getting into her business and hurting her even more. And if I even think that you’ve made a move on her, I swear on the Crystal Heart I will shove you someplace nopony will ever find you, or my name isn’t Crispy Abigail Brush!” the maid backed off, glaring at him even as she trotted backwards into an annex corridor. Silver Tongue let out a sigh of relief, and slumped to the floor.
“Come on, Silver Tongue! I know you’re tired, but that is no excuse to go to sleep in the hallway!” Gold Dust appeared, looking at her cousin with a mix of pity and exasperation. He simply nodded, and staggered off to the bathroom, leaving behind his perplexed cousin.

The evening had started off pleasantly. Gem Swirl had enjoyed a simple dinner of a hayseed salad, and then read the intriguing book the elderly newcomer had given her. It was amazing, and Gem Swirl hadn’t let go of it till she had read all of Daring Doo’s adventure. It seemed to be a series, so she would have to ask if he knew about the sequels. Around midnight Gem Swirl had finally tried to go to sleep, but then it all went wrong.
Maybe because she had seen two Unicorns in one day, her old traumas resurfaced, and her sleep was plagued by memories of Sombra. She barely got an hour of rest before she woke up screaming and crying, and she curled up in a tight ball on her bed, comforting herself by muttering an old folk song over and over. At length, her tears dried up and her shivering stilled, Gem Swirl got up to grab some water. As she filled a glass from the sink, her eyes looked over at the table where her books lay. For a moment, she was confused, wondering where that glass bottle had come from. Then she remembered; the red Unicorn peddler had given her a sleeping potion. Strange, Gem Swirl couldn’t recall removing it from her bag, or setting it on the table. 
She paused, thinking hard. On one hoof, it was from a mysterious Unicorn. On the other, if it worked, she would not have any nightmares. In the end, she pulled the crystal stopper from the bottleneck, and swallowed the contents in one gulp. The drink went down smoothly, and left an odd, minty aftertaste. It wasn’t bad, and she started to feel tired immediately. She staggered over to her bed and fell onto it as the potion kicked in. Closing her eyes and pulling up the blankets, she slipped into a cloud of warmth and peace.

“Can you move that book to the history stack? Thanks Silver Tongue,” Silver Page said, as his grandson moved books from pile to pile as he directed. It was almost lunchtime, and Silver Page had spent most of the time in the library. Gold Dust was out at the palace, organizing the multitude of royal files and legal documents left from the previous regime. Silver Tongue had opted to help Silver Page in the library, mostly in an attempt to avoid the maid-mare Crispy Brush, but also in part to collect his thoughts. Why did he react so strangely when Gem Swirl was mentioned? What was going on in him right now?
“Silver Tongue! Stop day dreaming and help me!” An urgent cry brought him back, and Silver Tongue looked over to see his grandfather struggling to keep a towering pile of books from keeling over. Silver Tongue rushed over to prevent his grandfather from being crushed by his precious tomes.
“Grab the red book! No, not that one! That’s magenta! I said red! Oh…!” With a muffled crump, the books collapsed on the two, but Silver Tongue’s actions had prevented it from doing anything more than bruise them.
“Galloping ghosts, boy! We nearly got crushed!” Silver Page cried out, more than just a little peeved. Silver Tongue surfaced next to his irate grandfather and looked around. For some reason, it all struck Silver Tongue as comically, for he soon burst out laughing.
“What is so funny?” Silver Page demanded, and his grandson obliged him.
“Nothing! Just…what a fitting end for a librarian, eh? Crushed by his books!” Silver Tongue said, between gasps of laughter. At this, Silver Page himself gave a mighty roar of humor. The pair of them rolled in the books laughing until the Crystal librarian walked over to them and shushed them up, then walked away muttering about crazy ponies.  
“What’s on your mind, Wiggle?” Silver Page asked after a while, using the family nick-name for Silver Tongue when he’d been a foal. Sighing, Silver Tongue told his grandfather about his odd feelings around Gem Swirl, and the terrifying threat he had received from Crispy Brush last night.  
Silver Page listened silently, making no movements or gestures. At length, he patted Silver Tongue’s back when his grandson was done. 
“I reckon its love. That, or a stomach virus.”
“Come on, gramps! I’m serious here!”
“As am I!” Silver Page got up, and began to clean up the mess they’d made. “I know you’ve been around the block, so to speak, and I know of your reputation for being a bit of a flirt and a play-stallion.” Silver Tongue looked away, slightly embarrassed. 
“Don’t be ashamed of yourself! It’s who you are, and I know that you never cross the line. You brag and boast, but never lie. You flirt and chase tail, but you never break hearts. You are a good pony, and the children love you, if nothing else. So tell me truthfully. Do you think this is love you feel?” Silver Page looked at Silver Tongue meaningfully.
“I don’t know. I’ve never felt this way, and I don’t think I’ve ever loved somepony before.”
“Then why don’t you find out?” Silver Page pointed to the doors, and Silver Tongue took the hint. He left the library, not quite galloping, but certainly faster than a trot. Silver Page smiled softly as his grandson left, and he rubbed the scar on his right shoulder.
“Well, Happy, our grandson is growing up at last. I wish you could see it, you’d be so proud…” Silver Page whispered to himself, before getting back to the clean-up. “Probably should have told him to help me first…”

Gem Swirl smiled. She beamed, radiant, and trotted leisurely through the streets of the Crystal Empire. The Crystal Ponies were stunned at her sudden change in demeanor. She waved at nearby ponies, said greetings to those she knew and recognized, and even laughed with some foals who didn’t know why she was happy, but were glad she was.
“Gem Swirl?” she looked up at the voice, and saw the pale blue Earth pony for yesterday.
“Silver Tongue?” she asked, worried that she’d forgotten his name. His expression told her that not only did she remember, but that he was happy that she had. 
“Yes, it’s me. How are you? I mean, uh, how was the book? The one gramps lent you? I, um,” Silver Tongue stammered, and Gem Swirl giggled good naturedly at him.
“It was a wonderful book. I want to thank him, and see if he has any of the rest.” She fell in step next to Silver Tongue, who gulped, and walked beside him for a bit.
“Hey! Mister from yesterday! Wanna play?” Silver Tongue looked over at the small group of foals who were following behind, and he smiled back.
“Only if you have room for one more,” he replied and Gem Swirl smiled, slightly embarrassed.
“Yeah! Play!” The children ran off, and they followed after. They spent a whole hour just play catch and bounce ball, until parents called for their kids to come back and have lunch, and they whined collectively about it. Still, they left, and soon Silver Tongue and Gem Swirl were alone together on a grassy hill in the suburbs. 
“You seem different today.” Silver Tongue brought up the topic at last, and looked over at the mare beside him. “Don’t get me wrong, I love your positive outlook, but it seems so…sudden.” Gem Swirl sighed, and looked back at him.
“For a long time, I haven’t been able to sleep. When I was King Sombra’s wife, it was because of his magic. Now, it’s because I can’t forget those times. I wake up after a few hours screaming and crying. I rarely get more than five hours. But last night, for the first time in fourteen years, I slept. And I dreamt of good things. Of better times and joy, not nightmares and pain.” She trembled a bit, and Silver Tongue hesitantly leaned over and rested his head on her shoulders. She stiffened, but soon relaxed, and they sat on the hill for a while, saying nothing. After a short time, they noticed the eyes of some ponies on them, and they straightened up, coughing and looking mightily embarrassed.  
“Why don’t we go down to the library and say hello to my grandfather. I’m sure he’ll be glad to lend you the rest of the Daring Doo novels,” Silver Tongue suggested, and Gem Swirl nodded eagerly.

“Okay, does ‘An Abridged History of Music’ go in the Music Section, the History Section, or the Leisure Section?” Gold Dust asked, levitating a slim book over her head, trying to decide on a pile for it.
“It goes in the History Section! Next to ‘The Sad Fate of the Didgerido!’” Silver Page called out, near another pile of book, and Gold Dust put the book in its spot. 
“As amazing as the fact that all these books survived a thousand years is, I can’t help but wonder if the world would be better off without some,” Gold Dust commented, still shaken after the whole collection of vintage cross-species pornography had fallen on her. 
“I can’t really disagree with you, my dear,” Silver Page muttered, still perplexed over how anypony could consider ‘Turpentine: 101 Ways to Make it Fun’ a good book to own, let alone use. 
The Library doors opened, and Silver Tongue entered, escorting a laughing Gem Swirl inside.
“…but it was only after the ants started dying did we realize the cupcakes were tainted. Unfortunately, I had eaten three but that point.” Gem Swirl gasped a bit, but Silver Tongue just laughed it off. “It was no big deal! Sure, they rushed me to the hospital, pumped my stomach, and I couldn’t move for a day, but we got some laughs out of it, at least!” he looked up from his narrative, and waved at his family.
“Please tell me you weren’t telling her about the picnic,” Gold Dust pleaded, and she covered her face in shame when he nodded that it was the picnic story. 
“Hello, miss Gold Dust. I’m sorry about my reaction yesterday. It was rude of me,” Gem Swirl said, apologizing for the awkward moment.
“Oh, No problem.” Gold Dust accepted the apology graciously, and headed back to the books, as one pile was starting to wobble.
“Thank you, sir, for the book yesterday. It was lovely,” Gem Swirl said as Silver Page trotted over. They shook hooves, and he nodded in thanks.
“Oh course, my dear. I brought some more of them with me today, hoping you might stop by. Here let me get them,” Silver Page said, and he left, but quickly returned with three books balanced on his head.
“You know, the author based Daring Doo on me,” Silver Page said, passing them to Gem Swirl. She raised an eyebrow at this, and he chuckled. “Yes, I know I’m not a lovely Pegasus, but I did uncover some lost ruins. Used to be an adventurer before I became a Librarian.”
“Really? Why did you quit?”
“It’s not always as glamorous as the books, my dear. It’s hard to enjoy a trip in Leech Bite Swamp when, you know, there are leeches biting you. Besides, I got older, I got wiser, and I realized I wanted a family. I used up a lot of my luck already on some of my escapades, and I decided to quit while I could.” at this, Silver Page briefly touched his scar. “Besides, why not let some other rising star make it big? I haven’t found all the treasure yet!” 
Gem Swirl nodded, and Silver Page looked up her and down. She got a bit nervous, and started to pace. Noticing this, Silver Page stopped.
“I’m sorry. But you seem, different than when I last saw you.” Gem Swirl smiled to show no harm had been done, and nodded in response.
“I had a wonderful sleep. Usually, I’m tormented in my dreams, but I took a special potion to ease my thoughts.”
“Really? I’d love to get some. I have a few bad dreams I’d like to forget,” Silver Page said with a smile, but Silver Tongue knew his grandfather was only half joking.
“I don’t know how to make, but I know the person who gave it to me. It was a Unicorn peddler, selling some toys in the market place yesterday.
“A Unicorn toymaker?” Silver Page asked, his tone turning dead pan. Gem Swirl nodded, and continued on, not noticing the change.
“Yes, he called himself that! The Toymaker! I thought he was a bit odd, but maybe I was just paranoid about him being, well, you know…”
“A rust red Unicorn?” Silver Page inquired, and she nodded again.
“Yes! His coat was an odd red color. But I don’t know if it was rust. Maybe a dark crimson?” Silver Page’s face had gone pale, and an expression of horror was on it. He hurried off out of the library, with the rest of them standing around looking confused.
“What was that all about?” Gold Dust asked, from behind a pile.

He had searched all over the Crystal Empire, but had seen neither hide nor hair of the pony he dreaded to see. At length, after rushing through the city, suburbs and fields, an exhausted Silver Page returned to the Crystal Palace at dinner time, but demanded quill and ink instead of food.
“I would like you to send this letter to Celestia, Shining Armor,” he said at the dining table that evening, and the Unicorn prince nodded. 
“Sure. Now, or later?”
“Now.” Silver Page’s expression was fierce, and it scared Shining Armor enough that he teleported it right away.
“Don’t ask me about the letter, in case I’m wrong. And especially don’t ask me about it if I’m right.” Having said that, Silver Page retreated to his bedroom, leaving some perplexed ponies behind. Gold Dust shrugged as Princess Cadence looked at them, while Silver Tongue was too busy sweating in fear of the maid Crispy Brush, who stared at him and slowly bent an iron ladle in and out of shape, over and over.
After dinner, Silver Tongue tried to escape to his room, but once again Crispy cornered him. This time, with friends; a second maid-mare and an elderly butler. Pinning him to the wall, Crispy shook her head in mock despair. 
“Are you really brave or really stupid to go after the Lady Gem Swirl after what I said last night?” Silver Tongue made no sound except a strangled squeal, and Crispy grinned evilly. 
“Stupid it is, then! Let’s see, where should we put you today? We could toss you in the sewers, or maybe roll you up inside a rug and toss you outside the barrier into the tundra? What do you two think?” Crispy looked behind her at her two confederates, you looked down nervously.
“Isn’t this a bit much, Crispy?” the maid asked, who got a full dose of the angry mare’s stare. 
“We have to teach this punk a lesson, or else he’ll hurt the lady again!” Crispy protested, but this time the butler spoke up.
“She seemed happy,” he said, and didn’t flinch like the pony next to him. “And so did he. I didn’t see any ill intention in him.”
“So what? We’re supposed to protect her!” Crispy pushed her hooves sharply into Silver Tongue’s ribs, and he gave a startled grunt of pain. “We’re always supposed to protect her! We covered for her when she broke the dishes and her parents got mad! We cleaned up the mess for her when she tried to cook pancakes for her mother on Mare’s Day, but set the kitchen on fire! We hid her when Sombra tried to hurt her! We soothed her cuts and welts after he abused her! We sang her songs and held her hooves when she woke up screaming every night for fourteen years! We were the ones who protected her all this time! It was us! Not him!” 
At this, Crispy let go of Silver Tongue, and he wheezed as the pressure vanished. He looked down at the Crystal Mare who lay sobbing on the floor, and his heart reached out to her. The butler and second maid came over and cradled her in their hooves as she cried. 
“Please don’t hate her. Crispy and us, we were the ones who looked after Gem Swirl as a foal, and we took care of her when King Sombra enslaved our land.” The butler placed a soothing hoof on the weeping maid’s forehead, and she whimpered a bit, but calmed down. “We don’t want lady Gem Swirl to suffer any more than she already has, and Crispy thinks that love will only hurt her. Especially love with a play-stallion who hits on maids.”
Silver Tongue said nothing, but slid down onto the cool marble and granite floor alongside them. 
“I know why you don’t want me near her, I really do. Heck, if I were you, I wouldn’t want me near her.” At this, Crispy raises her head to look at Silver Tongue through teary eyes.
“But I want you to know that I feel something when I see Gem Swirl, and I feel it when I stand beside her and talk with her. I don’t know if its love, but I’ll be sure to let you know whatever the outcome. I can’t possibly know her pain, but maybe I could try to lessen some of it.” Silver Tongue held out his hoof, and Crispy stared at it for a long time. Eventually, she sniffs, and shakes it with her own hoof.
“If you make her cry, I’m throwing you into the sewers,” she muttered.
“Or into the tundra wrapped in a carpet,” Silver Tongue added, and they shared a grin.

Gem Swirl didn’t understand. She looked at the glass bottle on the table, stared at it hard, from every angle she could. It didn’t make sense. She had drunk all of the contents last night, but here she was that very evening staring at a full bottle. She nudged it with her hoof. It wobbled, and the liquid inside sloshed. Did it magically refill after being consumed? Could she drink it every night and experience the dreams? A part of her was afraid. How was this possible? Magic? If so, should she really drink something that was made of unknown substances and of questionable origins? But a larger part of her, a stronger part, argued that if it granted her such bliss, than who cared where it came from.
“Sweet dreams,” she whispered, and drained the whole bottle.

> End of the Dream
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Something is very wrong,” Silver Tongue said, pacing nervously in his guest chambers. Crispy sighed in irritation at being called to his room, but none the less waited patiently for the agitated stallion to calm down.
It had been over a week since Silver Tongue and his family had arrived in the Crystal Empire to organize the library. During that time, Silver Tongue had gotten closer to Gem Swirl, and for the first few days, they had gotten along fine, hanging out, enjoying each other’s company. But then she had started to grow distant. She seemed less interested in hanging out with Silver Tongue now, and more interested in staying in her house. Gem Swirl would stare out at the world with dull, glazed over expressions whenever she did leave the house. She hardly ate, and seemed to want to sleep more and more often. Silver Tongue was worried, but had no idea what to do, or what was wrong with her.
And if that wasn’t worrying enough, Silver Page was spending a lot of his time alone in his room, writing and muttering. He wrote sealed letters to Princess Celestia, and received sealed replies on a regular basis. When he was out and about, he all of that time in the library, researching some of the oldest books the Empire possessed. Something crazy was happening, and Silver Tongue didn’t like it at all.
“Why don’t you just ask your grandfather and Gem Swirl what’s wrong? Why mope around, doing nothing?” Crispy asked, pulling out a duster, deciding she might as well do some cleaning if she would be here.
“I have! Or at least, I’ve tried to! Gramps just avoids the question while Gem Swirl gives me the silent treatment!” Silver Tongue ground his hooves into the carpet in frustration. “And I’m not the only one worrying! Gold Dust might not seem like concerned, but I know her better than that! She is hardly getting any sleep, and is doing all of Silver Page’s work for him, in addition to her own. She can’t last like that!” 
“And then there’s Princess Cadence and Shining Armor! They are really worried about gramps! He taught Shining how to have confidence in his magic and helped him improve his ‘Aegis Barrier’ spell. Then there’s Cadence, who views Silver Page like an uncle. He always had time to talk, and always listened to her problems. Silver Page is well known throughout Canterlot, not just as a retired adventurer but as a kind and helpful old stallion. If he keeps on this path, he’ll hurt other ponies, not just himself.” Silver Tongue threw his hooves up in despair, and flopped onto his bed, burying his anguish in the fluffy pillows. 
Crispy rolled her eyes again, but in truth she too was worried, though mostly about Gem Swirl. She had never seen her like this, not even when King Sombra had been in power. This was new, and that wasn’t good in the maid’s opinion. Before she could say anything, though, the bedroom’s door burst open, and Silver Page stood in the doorway. His mane was even messier than normal, and he had tired circles under his eyes, but he seemed energetic regardless. A bugling saddlebag was on his back, but it didn’t seem to bother Silver Page. Silver Tongue looked up, curious.
“Silver Tongue! Meet me in the throne room right now!” He galloped off before his grandson could form a reply.
“What’s biting his rump?” Crispy mused, as Silver Page burst open Gold Dust’s room and said the same message as before. 

Gem Swirl was exhausted. Each day it got harder for her to stay awake, and each day it got harder for her to care about anything other than sleeping. She looked over at the small glass bottle that stood on her side table next to her bed. She stared at it with a strange desire, waiting for it to refill. 
She had learned early on that after drinking the Dream Drink, it took an hour after waking up for the bottle to refill with the wonderful brew. Furthermore, if the bottle broke, it would just fix itself, the shards gathering together and mending themselves. If there was liquid inside the bottle when it broke, it sucked itself back into the repaired vessel. 
The dreams that came with the potion were wonderful beyond belief. Happiness and joy, wrapped in love and peace. She could have anything she wanted in the dreamscape. Anything. She gritted her teeth as she waited for the minutes to tick away. Gem Swirl was aware that she was dependant on the Dream Drink, but couldn’t bring herself to care. The world had been bright and cheerful the first couple of days, but now, Gem Swirl saw it all as grey and emotionless. Unappealing and boring, she wanted the comfort the dreams brought her. Whatever the cost.

“Good, you’ve all gathered.” Silver Page looked at the group that had gathered in the throne room. Princess Cadence sat on her throne, and Shining Armor stood by her side. Gold Dust and Silver Tongue stood by each other, facing their grandfather, and the one of maids was standing off in the corner. All were looking at him, a mix of curiosity and worry.
“I know you think I’ve gone mad these last few days, but I have not. I have been researching and talking with Celestia. I feel that I should tell you some of what is happening.” Silver Page paced around before speaking again.
“I can’t go into too many details, but this is what I can say. Gem Swirl has been in contact with a very dangerous individual, one that Celestia and myself had thought was gone, sealed by our efforts. I can’t speaks its name, but I fear it has given miss Gem Swirl a dangerous poison.” There was a stirring among the audience, looking at each other worriedly.
“What kind of poison?” the maid asked, stepping forward hesitantly, unsure if she would be allowed to be here.
“That is a good question. I’m not sure 100% sure, but I feel that it is something called Dream Drink.” Silver Page sighed, and rubbed his scarred shoulder. “It’s a potion that grants blissful sleep and wonderful dreams.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad, especially for somepony like Gem Swirl. I think that a potion like that is better than a poison,” Shining Armor mused. 
“It is, and that is why Dream Drink is dangerous. At first, your dreams are full of joy, and the waking world is bright and inviting. But the more you drink, the more you depend on it. Dream Drink is a narcotic, it makes the drinker addicted to the dreams it offers, to the point that ponies see the world as a drab, boring mess. And then, they’ll want to sleep more and more. And once they’ve consumed a certain amount of the Dream Drink, they fall into a coma, never to wake up, lost in a dream till their body dies of hunger, thirst, or the elements of nature.”
Silver Page’s revelation was shocking, and there was silence as the ponies absorbed and contemplated this information. 
“How much time do we have before the coma sets in?” Princess Cadence asked, and Silver Page shrugged. 
“I don’t know, but we probably don’t have a lot of time to waste. It works fast, and in my experience, it can take a single week to a month. In Gem Swirl’s case, I’m inclined to imagine she has a few days left. Maybe less. Her pain and anguish is far beyond anypony I’ve seen in a long time, and to escape the pain, she’ll turn to the Dream Drink. Worst case scenario, she’s already succumbed.”
“Then we need to hurry! She hasn’t left her house in two days! It might already be too late!” Silver Tongue exclaimed, and he rushed out of the throne room.
“Silver! Wait!” Gold Dust called after him, but he was too fast, and not listening. 
“I will go with him. Cadence, Gold Dust, please follow as soon as you can. I may need your magic,” Silver Page said, and he shot off after his grandson.
He caught up with Silver Tongue outside the palace, and kept pace with ease. Silver Tongue looked over, concerned his grandfather would stop him, but that didn’t happen.
“Where does Gem Swirl live, Silver Tongue?” Surprised, Silver Tongue quickly recovered, and gave a small grin as he led his grandfather to the small house on the outskirts of the city.
They soon reach her home, a small and modest looking cottage with a cozy feel about it. Something felt wrong, though. The lights were off, which wasn’t unusual, it was only early afternoon, but a sense of foreboding leeked from the dark windows, and a shiver crawled up Silver Tongue’s spine. Silver Page seemed to sense it too, and he stepped up to the door, knocking firmly on it. There was a pause, than Silver Page tried again. Silver Tongue pushed his grandfather aside and began to pound on the door, calling out.
“Gem Swirl, can you hear me? It’s Silver Tongue! Please, answer me!” As he relentlessly struck the door, a cracking sound resounded, and the door fell in, the hinges weakened by Silver Tongue’s abuse. 
“Uh…”Silver Tongue looked guiltily at the now door-free entrance, and looked around nervously.
“We can fix it later! We need to check on Gem Swirl!” Silver Page said as he pushed Silver Tongue into the house.
The interior was dark, the only light coming from the now busted doorway and a few thin beams of sunlight filtering through the drawn curtains. It was sparsely decorated, and only a few pieces of furniture existed. There was a dining room that doubled as a kitchen off to one side, a living room with a reclining sofa and an empty fireplace, and a bedroom that was linked to the living room. No doors existed, the rooms open to each other. A few paintings hung on the wooden walls, but that was it. Silver Tongue hesitantly moved to the bedroom, and peeked inside.
Lying amidst soft looking sheets and pillows, Gem Swirl lay on her stomach, wisps of her light green mane obscuring her face, and Silver Tongue was struck by how beautiful her sleeping expression was. He reached over and brushed some loose stands of hair out of the way, and gazed down at her. Silver Page entered the bedroom  behind his grandson momentarily, but his eyes were not on the Crystal mare, but on the tiny glass bottle perched innocently on her night stand. Silver Tongue saw the object of his grandfather’s gaze, and a sudden anger welled up from within. He swept the bottle off the table with a hoof, rage in his heart. His rage turned to shock, however, as the bottle smashed apart on the floor, but instantly repaired itself, the cracked shards flowing together to form the pristine vessel.
“Ignore it, Silver Tongue! It’s indestructible, so leave it alone for now.” Silver Page snatched up the bottle and threw it over his shoulder, hearing it smash apart in the next room, and the accompanying tinkling sound as it fixed itself. Silver Page leaned over Gem Swirl, and tapped his hoof on her forehead, her forelegs, and on her shoulders, noting her reactions to the stimuli. He then pried open her eyelids and examined the orbs beneath, muttering something to himself as he worked. 
“This is bad,” Silver Page declared at length, just as Gold Dust and Princess Cadence appeared at the front door. They were taken aback that the door was in fact on the floor next to some splintered hinges, but let it slide as they hurried into the house.
“She’s entered the coma,” Silver Page announced, and Silver Tongue’s eyes widened in fear. Gold Dust and Cadence looked at each other remorsefully. “But she can be saved.” 
The expressions on the ponies changed to one of surprise and hope.
“There is a spell, one that can delve into the mind of a sleeping pony. Princess Luna knows this spell, as Guardian of the Night, and I learned it from her during my time locked in my room. I have modified it, and I believe you, Gold Dust, and you Princess Cadence, may be able to perform it together.” Reaching into his saddlebag, still strapped to his back, Silver Page removed a scroll of paper, and unfurled it for the Unicorn and Alicorn to read.
“…It seems straightforward, but we have to cast it on a pony who is close to the subject…” Cadence began, but then stopped, realization dawning on her.
“Yes. You will have to cast the Dream Jumping spell on Silver Tongue.” The confirmation from Silver Page was delivered calmly, but an uncertainty was in his eyes. Silver Tongue gaped, and Gold Dust shook her head in protest.
“No way! I can’t risk that! He’s my cousin! What if the spell messes up? Like you say, there are many ways to cast magic, and many ways to fail!” Gold Dust shouted, stamping a hoof in defiance. 
“I’ll do it.” Silver Tongue answered solemnly, and the group looked at him. “If it means I can save Gem Swirl, then I will try anything.” Gold Dust opened her mouth to protest, but the expression of her cousin’s face shut her up.

It took over an hour to prepare the spell, but thanks to Silver Page’s modifications and Luna’s notes, the process went smoothly. At last, Cadence and Gold Dust were ready, and they lowered their horns, Gold Dust to touch Silver Tongue’s forehead and Cadence to place her horn on Gem Swirl. Silver Page double checked the spell, and satisfied, gave a grunt of approval. Silver Tongue settled into a comfortable sitting position at the foot of Gem Swirl’s bed, and the spell began. Gold light washed over Silver Tongue, and a pink aura surrounds the comatose Crystal mare. Slowly, the golden aura upon Silver Tongue spreads across the bedsheets, and touch onto the pink aura. 
Silver Tongue’s eyes were closed, but he wasn’t asleep. He had to be awake to enter the Dreamscape. At first, all he saw was blackness from his shut eyelids, and could hear the thrum of Gold Dust’s magic. Bit by bit, the thrumming, like a badly tuned harp, built in volume, until it reached a crescendo, then burst. The moment the sound stopped, he blinked. Light stabbed his retinas, and he gazed around a beautiful field of waving grain. The stalks were golden and ripe, and a sweet scent filled his nostrils. He looked around, and saw a clearing in front of him. A small hill rose from in front of him, and it was blanketed in lush green grass. Looking around, Silver Tongue deduced he was at the edge of a field, and the hill in front was the one he had laid upon with Gem Swirl all those days ago. He took a hesitant step forward. It all seemed so real, perhaps more vivid and bright than the waking world, and Silver Tongue could see how this place would be tempting to a hurt soul. 
He heard laughter, strong and hearty, coming from the other side of the grassy hill, and Silver Tongue galloped forth to investigate. What he saw was unexpected. A picnic blanket was spread out on the grass, and all sorts of tantalizing, homemade dishes sat upon it. Around the feast six Crystal Ponies sat. Three wore crowns, denoting royalty. These must be her aunt, uncle, and cousin. A green coated stallion wearing a blue and purple tabard was the source of the laughter, while Gem Swirl reclined on the flank of a motherly look mare who had her colors. Silver Tongue sucked in his breath. Her parents, no doubt about that.
“Gem Swirl?” Silver Tongue called out, hesitantly. At the sound of his voice, the ponies all turned to face at him. He flinched, but they did nothing, except look.
“Silver Tongue? What’s going on? Why are you here? I didn’t call for you,” Gem Swirl said, standing up and walking over.
“I’m not a dream, Gem. I used a spell to enter your head.” Gem Swirl’s eyes lit up, and she embraced him. As she hugged him, he realized, for the first time, he could see her Cutie Mark. Normally, she covered herself with her dresses, so he never saw it. It was a light blue diamond wrapped in a silver ribbon, and he smiled.
“What?”
“First time I’ve seen your Cutie Mark. It looks good,” Silver Tongue replied, and Gem Swirl blushed at the compliment. 
“Come over, I want you to meet my parents!” Gem grabbed his hoof, and started to pull him over to the group of ponies.
“This is my dad, Sword Swirl, and my Mother, Diamond Dance.” She pointed out her parents, and the nodded to me, smiles on their faces. “This Uncle Honor, Aunt Regal, and my cousin Glory!” 
The introductions over, Gem Swirled tried to get Silver Tongue to sit, but he refused, and remained standing.
“What’s wrong, Silver?” She asked, worried.
“We can’t stay here.” 
“You’re right! We should go into the city and say hello to the ponies down there! You should meet Crispy! She’s my maid, but also my best friend! She’s a bit older than me, like a sister!” Gem Swirl kept on talking, oblivious to Silver Tongue’s pained expression.
“No, I mean, we can’t stay here, in the dream.” That shut Gem up. She turned, a confused look on her face. 
“This isn’t real! None of this is! You have to come back with me, now!” Silver grabbed Gem’s hoof, but she snatched it away, a look of anger and hurt on her beautiful muzzle. 
“Why? Why do you want me to return? I love it here! I need to be here! Here, mom and dad are alive! They all are! Here, I’m whole!” 
“I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life in a dream!” Silver Tongue began, but was cut off.
“But I do!” Gem Swirl screamed, and the vista changed immediately. The field was gone, replaced by pillars of black crystal. The grass on the hill was dead, and in the distance, the spires of the city were toppled and belching smoke and flames. Silver Tongue took a step back, startled.
“This is what awaits me outside! Pain and nightmares! I don’t want to wake up, if it means leaving my paradise!” As quickly as it came, the image faded and they were now in a warm and cozy living room, far larger and grander than the one Gem currently had. 
“I don’t want to leave!”
“But if you stay in here, you’ll die! You’ll never wake up again, and be trapped!” Silver protested, but Gem shook her head furiously.
“I don’t care! Here, I don’t have to bear the scars King Sombra gave me! Here, I don’t have to hide in my home, afraid to look at the ponies in the streets, to know what horrors were inflicted upon them while I did nothing!” Gem Swirl collapsed on the carpet, sobbing, and Silver Tongue quickly wrapped his forelegs around her.
“They don’t blame you for anything that happened, Gem! They know it wasn’t your fault!”
Gem kept on crying, and Silver continued to hold her. 
“You wouldn’t want to be with me, once you saw how I really look. He hurt me so badly, the scars can never fade. I will never be whole in the waking world. Only here can I be beautiful enough for you,” Gem sobbed, and Silver gripped her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
“You are beautiful here, it is true, but you are just as lovely in the real world! You don’t need to hide it!” She pushed him off of her, and stood. As she did, her coat rippled, and Silver Tongue gasped at what he saw. Her entire flank was a mess, patches of her coat gone leaving behind burned flesh, and her Cutie Mark was torn up with scars and cuts, the lovely image on her brutalized in the most horrid of fashions. The hair on her tail was pale and sickly looking, and was cropped short, even burnt in some places. The tortures Sombra had lain upon her now visible to Silver Tongue for the first time. 
Gem Swirl saw him gasp and she looked down, hurt by his apparent betrayal.
“See?! I am ugly! Filthy! Wretched!”Gem fell down again, and began to cry once more as her grief overwhelmed her. 
What happened next surprised her. Silver Tongue rose, silent, and Gem thought he was planning on walking away from her. She trembled as his hoof steps echoed on the floor, but gasped when she felt something moist press against her ruined Cutie Mark. Gem opened her eyes to see Silver Tongue leaning down and kissing her flank, his lips pressed firmly against her wounds. Slowly, Silver Tongue let himself onto the floor to lie beside the mare, not once letting his kiss leave her. He pulled Gem Swirl close, and she gasped as he transferred his lips to her own. She resisted, mostly out of shock, but closed her eyes and went with it. After a while, he let her go, and she stared at him with wonder.
“You do not disgust me. You never could. No matter what happened to you in the past, I want to be with you now, in the present, in the real world. You’ll die if you stay here.” Silver pressed his forehead to Gem’s, and he looked into her eyes.
“This world is amazing, and here, your parents are alive. In the real world, they aren’t.” Gem tried to look away, but Silver gently held her in place. “It hurt's I know. In here, you can have everything you want. You don't have to suffer. In the real world, you will be hurt, you will cry, you will want to give up. But I can help you. I want to be the one who holds your hoof when you are sad, and I want to be the one who helps you recover whn you are in pain. In here, your family is whole, and out there they have perished. That will never change. But out there, many people still want to see you, want to help you and be there for you. That old butler who works at the palace. The maids. Crispy. Me.”
Silver looked into Gem’s eyes, and held her gaze. 
“I love you.” Silver spoke the truth he had felt in his heart all this time, and Gem looked at him in surprise.
“I, I love you too,” Gem stammered, weakly.
“We need to wake up now. We have a whole world to see. A whole, real world.”

Silver Tongue’s eyes snap open, and he quickly takes in the scene. He was still lying on the foot of Gem’s bed, and Gold Dust and Princess Cadence stood over them, eyes closed, their magic starting to fade. Gold Dust was the first to recover, and she gave a squeal of joy as she wrapped herself around Silver Tongue in a crushing hug. 
“Oh, thank Celestia you’re alright! I was worried you’d never wake up!” From a crack in the curtains, he could see the onset of dusk appearing in the sky. He looked over at Gem Swirl, concerned, but he was soon rewarded by her eyes fluttering open. He disengaged himself for Gold Dust and threw a hug around the Crystal mare. Cadence and Gold Dust cough politely and look away.
“Good evening, Gem,” he said softly, and she smiled up at him. Silver Tongue let her go after a bit, and looked around, trying to find Silver Page.
“Grandfather left once the spell was underway,” Gold Dust explained, when she saw her cousin’s search. Silver Tongue cocked his head.
“Why?” Gold Dust shrugged.
“I don’t know. We didn’t ask, but he said he be back before dinner.” Silver Tongue rolled his eyes. Silver Page was probably cooped up in the library again, reading.

In the Crystal Mountains, there was a large series of caverns that were made of ice and black stone. He knew the path well, even though he hadn’t been here in years. It had taken several hours to reach this place, even riding a sled pulled by eight husky dogs. Silver Page clambered over the rocks, slick with ice, and made his way up the sheer cliff face and into the caves. He headed deep into them, but had no need for light. Old sunstone were embedded in the walls and glowed softly in the gloom, refracting upon the ice and frost. He stepped into a wide area, the central cavern. Here, there were many sunstones that cast odd shadows, and perhaps most surprising, furniture. Old wooden bookshelves were caked in frost, and an old worn bed was slick with ice. Snow was piled on a table that was on its side, and in the center stood a statue. It was a statue of an Earth Pony mare, who sat on the icy ground with frozen tears in her eyes. But her expression was the most heartbreaking to see, a mixture of fear and sadness, but also of peace and acceptance of her fate. And it was all made of solid ice.
“Lovely, isn’t it?” A figure emerged from one of the pools of shadow in the room, and stood next to the ice sculpture. Silver Page tensed, and the figure turned into a rust red Unicorn with eyes bright with madness. 
“I’m surprised you made it up here all on your own, Silver Page. You aren’t as young as you used to be.”
“I’m seventy seven, young enough to kick your teeth in,” Silver Page said, a low growl in his throat. “And take it off, you look ridiculous.”
“What do you mean? I’m just a humble Unicorn, a humble Toymaker.” When Silver Page said nothing and just glared, the Unicorn sighed.
“Fine! Always so uptight, even after all these decades.” The Unicorn’s horn blazed, and crimson sparks erupted from it. Fire the color of blood washed over his body. It distended and engorged, swelling with increased muscles. His legs elongated, and his tail got longer. A pair of wings ripped from his back, the same rust color as his horn and mane. His coat turned a different color, however, the red leeching away to become a dull alabaster grey. On the flank, an upside down black and white tragedy mask was his Cutie Mark. The fire faded, and an Alicorn stared down at Silver Page, eyes still full of insanity. 
“It’s been a while, Silver Page. You’ve gotten so old.”
“Likewise, Forgery, though I can’t say I’ve missed you.” The Alicorn laughed. He tapped the ice statue with a hoof, and grinned at Silver Page’s enraged expression.
“You have no right to touch her, Forgery! Not after you did this to her!” 
“Oh, so righteous, little Silver Page. But it was also you that made her like this, or have you forgotten? I just gave her the power, and the warning about what the consequences would be if she failed. You were the one who broke her.” The Alicorn laughed darkly, and tapped the frozen mare again.
“I gave her my love. That is what hurt her, and I am indeed to blame. And I have never stopped hating myself for it.” Silver Page took a step forward, hate and sadness boiling within him.
“She was weak! She had all the power she could want, but gave it up for the worthless illusions of kindness and love,” Forgery spat, his words harsh. “And she paid the price for that betrayal.”
“Your artifacts and curses may be strong, but they are not strong enough to defeat love. You cannot control the heart,” Silver Page said. Forgery narrowed his eyes.
“For now.” His words were heavy with dark promises, and he turned away. “Spend your time with this foolish mare, I have work to do.” His horn buzzed as the vile Alicorn prepared to teleport away. “But know this, my old friend! I will be back, and this time, I will finish what I started. Equestria will bend to my will, and the whole world will be mine.” Forgery erupted in a fountain of magical fire, which vanished as quickly as it had appeared. 
The Alicorn gone, Silver Page approached the mare who had been frozen for all time, and pressed his forehead against hers, his eyes closed as tears ran down his cheeks. 
“I am so sorry, Glass Heart. I am so, so sorry for hurting you.” Silver Page wept softly for a moment, and then opened his eyes, a fierce determination burning within. “And I will stop Forgery once and for all this time.” Silver Page threw back his head and roared.
“Do you hear me, you monster?! I will stop you, if it’s the last thing I do!”