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A loud fiery burp, that was a staple of the household, announced the arrival of the most recently sent mail from the royalty of Canterlot. “This one’s from Luna!” Announced Spike, holding out the letter. Grabbing it with telekinesis, Twilight opened it and began to read, eager to see what had been sent over today. I was sitting at the table in the mini kitchen that was the extent that the library could provide. Looking over, I watched as momma Twilight read the letter. Watching her face slowly go from thrilled, to mildly worried, to out-right horrified was something I would’ve found amusing if it weren’t my own mother. “What’s wrong momma?” I asked. Twilight wordlessly floated the letter over to me.
Dear Twilight and Midnight:
I write to you with news most dire. Back when I was still recently banished to the moon, Celestia struck a deal with the griffon kingdom that had several terms and deals, but only one of them is still relevant today. It’s most basic message was “Peace between our kingdoms shall stand as long as the moon is within the sky.” Unfortunately, the current monarch has less enlightened goals then the wise king of old, and has finally managed to get it through their system of red tape and governmental blocking, to make an argument that, ever since the mare in the moon vanished, it’s no longer the same moon in the sky and the deal is null and void. Everyone in Canterlot has been worried for days, but we may have finally figured out a compromise: the current king listens incredibly closely to his grand vizer, who has chosen to take his holidays in ponyville this year. If he has positive things to say about us, then the whole situation might be resolved with minimal effort. The problem is, he’s incredibly stuck-up and apparently says that he will only consort with those “equivalent to a king.” Normally me, or Celly would deal with this, but we’ve got our own massive political melt-down in progress over at the castle. The point of this being, we’ve worked out yet another compromise. He would be willing to talk to you if you were with another pony of the same rank. Very unfortunately, we’ve only got one pony we can spare. On the plus side, you’re familiar with him, on the down-side......It’s Blueblood the second.
Yours truly, Luna
P.S.
As a apology for what I know must be horrible for you, I found a gift for both of you. It’s a small consolation, but all I can do at the moment.
I dropped the letter in sheer shock. Blueblood the second? But Momma Luna knew of our...Interactions in the past. And what was this “gift” that she wrote about? That’s when another fiery burp lit up the library. “That was a big one.” I remarked dryly, too busy processing having to be in the company of blueblood to notice that the entire library had just been glowing from the most recent message.
Spike hefted up the most recent arrival, a tome wrapped in brown paper to ensure safe travel. I silently watched Momma Twilight carefully remove the wrapping from the tome and read out the title. “Magiks of the moon.” I was somewhat surprised by Momma Twilight’s following excitement. “Do you know what this is?” she said. Truth be told, I’d seen a couple of references in some of the older books in the library, but I wasn’t about to spoil Momma’s fun, no matter how distraught I was. “No?” I answered weakly. “It’s just about the oldest book on magic there is! This was the defining work from back before nightmare moon! Everyone had assumed it long lost and the knowledge inside gone forever! Do you know what this could mean if it were deciphered?”
News like that was enough to bring me to my hooves again. Twilight continued, still in librarian mode “Think of all the knowledge this contains!” Opening it reverentially, she leafed through some of the pages. “La Maladie Maledictum, Sillurian Miscellana, Rowen's Saggitarii, l'Grandè è l'Formidablè Eixirt? This is some of the most complex spell-work I’ve ever seen!” Noticing her distraction, I seized the opportunity to get some words in. “I don’t suppose we could try untangling any of this stuff together?” “Of course!” Said Twilight, looking shocked for a moment, “Even if this stuff didn’t require two unicorns working on them, I’d still want you to help! I’ll read through some of this stuff, and see what we can try first, all right?” Before I could reply, Twilight bounded up into her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Despite this, I had to grin. Anything this interesting that made momma that happy had to be good. And maybe the whole Blueblood situation wouldn’t be too bad after all. But first things first.... “I’m going out for my lunch momma!” I said bounding out the door, knowing that there was a certain somepony waiting for me.....
And somewhere on the other side of ponyville.....
I sat in my den of knowledge, my cave of news, my... rug of rumors! Imagine, if you will, a plain and simple wall, in a plain and simple newspaper office. Look closer at this wall, You notice a door, “But surely this is but an ordinary door leading to, perhaps, a broom closet?” Is what you might say if you knew not the truth. If you were to enter, you would see the true glory that began as a vision and has been brought to reality. I had notes about every event that has ever happened in Ponyville, all the rumors and gossip on the street pieced together across the room with pins and string functioning as my web of truth. Allowing me to have a giant ball of lies which, if properly tended, some information could be carefully gleamed from.
My keen reporter’s eye observing all of today’s rumors as I filtered them through. “Prince rumored to be arriving in town?” Preposterous! “Town council receiving mysterious bribes?” Irrelevant! I scanned through looking for some real news. Ah-ha! I found the true piece of news within this all!
That was when the door was kicked open. “The web of truth! “ I blurted out before realizing who it was. “Hey boss, I found her! She’s taking her lunch break in the broom closet again!” Shouted Snappy Scoops (No relation to the dashingly brilliant Reporter-pony Whadda Scoops) “Well, leave her there until she’s finished then!” Cried back Deadline, the editor of “Trotter” . “Actually” I said gathering my things “I’ve got a stakeout to partake in.” “Is this one of your famous stake-outs Whadda?” Jeered Snappy. “Like that time you-” “We agreed never to speak of that again!” I yelled out before she could mention the incident. “I have a real piece of news to pursue!” I shouted over my shoulder, while leaving the headquarters behind. Somepony’s been leaving mysterious transcripts at the library! While over my shoulder I could hear them discussing the benefits of keeping somepony who can think in italics.
Whadda:
It was a perfect night for observing the library. The stars were up, it was lovely and warm, and even the normal inhabitant of the bushes was out at a recital, so I manged to get the best spot for observation. As a result of this, Whadda has decided to speak in the third-pony when announcing her plans to pull out her binoculars and hunker down.
….............................
No results. Whadda has to pack it in just before dawn, but she knows that her persistence shall be rewarded! Whadda is now going to save her third-pony perspective to avoid creeping out the ponies at the newsstable.
…......................................
Whadda is back for another night of dedicated watching towards her goal of finding this unofficial library contributer! Although I am hoping to find the library bandit tonight because the weather team does have a thunder storm planned later tonight. Combined with the fact that there’s no recital tonight....
…...................................
That was the most miserable night of Whadda’s entire life. She is now soaking wet and will have to go to work like this! At least Whadda has gotten most of the mud off herself and dried off her hat. Most of the scratches were superficial anyway. “Whadda has now decided to obtain a hot drink at the newsstabl-” Whadda announced aloud, before having her speech cut off by the greatest thing Whadda has ever seen in her long and varied career of reporting. The most perfect, beautiful, and snow-white pegasus that Whadda has ever seen stood, buying a copy of “Trotter” of the newsstable. “Careful Whadda, you know how many celebrity ponies are actually horrible under those looks.” Whadda mumbled under her breath, but apparently not quiet enough as the pegasus turned, amazingly of course, towards Whadda with the newspaper wrapped under one wing and said “Eh? I didn’t quite catch that.” She said in a voice, like to all that could hear it was a melody of angels. “What’s your name?” She asked, taking Whadda by surprise. “Whadda Scoops the reporter has decided to state her name to the pegasus as being Whadda Scoops!” Was what my mouth fired off before my brain had a chance to intervene. An awkward moment passed slowly. “You’ve got only one chance to impress her so get it right!” I mentally screamed at myself. But what was a smooth, innocuous comment that would impress her, obviously a mare of the greatest taste and sensibilities?
Then my keen reporter’s eyes scanned over her and my pupils widened in shock. I knew what I had to do. “I’m reporting on the story of library bandit you know. So, how was the library last night?” I said as it were the most normal thing in Equestria, to the greatest of my ability while a living dream was in my presense. I noticed her reaction, her complete freezing with the smile still on her lips, that only confirmed further what I knew. “I.....Don't know what you’re talking about,” She said quickly, with a voice that sounded better then an orchestra of angels. “Why would you possibly think that?” I hated to push her like this, but even beauty to launch a thousand ships must take second place to the truth. “Well, as I’ve been in hideout last night there’s a numerous amount of clues. Firstly, your wings are still sligthly wet, you’ve done a good job on drying them, but they still have a slight fluff. Secondly, on your hooves are a combination of grass with the slight magical tint that comes from being near a concentration of magic, which only exists in two places in ponyville and if you’d been seeing Zecora, somepony would’ve brought it to me. Thirdly ,there were a variety of other clues, slight tells on your part when I mentioned it but most importantly, I saw a white feather caught in the window sill last night.”
Seeing her clear discomfort at the masterful summary of the facts was obviously causing her some distress, and what lady of undeafeatable beauty wouldn’t be distressed at these facts? So I decided to wrap it up quickly. “With all these facts in place I’m afraid there is only one conclusion I can bring from this.” I paused, dramatically pointing a hoof at this paragon of everything beautiful and said “You might have seen the bandit!”
Midnight:
“So then what happened?” “She had to go to work, so she scheduled an interview for noon. But enough of that, how’s your day going?” “Well, your most recent manuscript is really good but....” I lowered my voice slightly for empathsis as I recited Momma Luna’s letter. “But at least it’s only for a week.” “That sounds like a really mean things for your mother to do.” “I suppose the situation’s desperate, But I can deal with it. How bad could it be?” The town clock then rang twelve times. “I suppose you’re right. Good luck!” “See you later.” I said, trotting away. Mulling over my last words, “How bad could it be?” I repeated to reassure myself, heading towards the town hall. My question was swiftly answered when I saw the upper-most window break in the town hall, observed as something flew towards me, and was surprised when the mayor landed on top of me.
Whadda Scoops:
Whadda scoops was hungry. Whadda had a tendency towards avoiding extraneous actions when she was focusing on something more important. But this had to take the cake. She had to just hope that she could cut the mustard with her and not collapse on a table for today’s interview. “Quit thinking in the third-pony Whadda.” I murmured to myself. My keen reporter’s instincts never failing me, I took a mental nope of the “Situation” between the town’s resident princess and the mayor, and decided it was a story for another time. Rounding the corner, I was surprised to bump into a white pegsi, who happened to be the paragon of all beauty and wonder and.... “Hi! I’ll meet you at the cafe in a moment, I heard a crash and want to check if Midnight is alright.” Acting at her bequest, I went and sat down at a table. My concerns about personality were unfounded after all! She truly cared for even random ponies who she could have in no possible situation, shape, form, or fashion have known. Then I ordered a marigold salad before I collapsed from hunger.
Midnight Sparkle:
“Momma dearest?” I said, stumbling into the library. “can you find me an anesthetic spell?” At that point Twilight left her bedroom and caught a glimpse of the distress I felt. “Would you believe that having the mayor tossed on top of me was one of the best things that happened today?” “Midnight, what happened?” “Six Hours! Six hours of listening to Prince Blueblood alternate between chumming it up with Jezuin and proposing to me! Jezuinhimself is horrible! Anyone who isn’t a member of royalty he refers to as ‘peasants’ and his first action when coming into town was claim the largest building as his own, then throw everyone out. Literally, in the case of the mayor.”
“Darling, that sounds terrible! But...” It was then I recognized momma’s position. Shuffling her hooves, general nervousness, and inability to stay still? I knew what was coming, but decided to let momma have her fun. “Yes, momma?” “Would advanced jade-binding make you feel better.” My jaw dropped upon hearing this. “Really momma? You mean...” “Yeah! This book really does contain some old stuff!” “So, we could use this to bind a spell to a jade stone, and the spell effect would last much longer then usual?” “Yes, and normally it’d be at most twenty percent longer, but with the techinques in the book, the effect could be enhanced up to three times as long!” “That’s incredible!” “The thing is, it’s really fiddly work, which is why I’ve waited for you to get home.” “Let’s get cracking then!”
“Which is why I stayed up until 9:00 AM doing magic today.” I announced to Shimmer. “So that’s why you look so-” Shimmer then had the good grace to look slightly embarrassed before continuing. “Either way, I hope you have a good day.” “Me too, although the signs are saying that it’s going to be even worse then yesterday.” “What signs?” “The giant banner of his face that’s placed on the town hall.” Shimmer quickly flew up, then back down to our table. “Is he serious?” “I’m the mare spending a week with him. I’m VERY certain that he’s serious. But anyway, how did yesterday’s interview with the reporter go?” “We’re having another one today!” She said, unable to keep the edge of excitement out of her voice. “But I thought it was an interview abou-” My line of enquiry was interrupted by the noon bell. “You’d better hurry along! Whadda should be here any second now.” I trotted away, suspicious. How could she be so excited for the arrival of Whadda? I shook my head to try and think clearly. It would probably just a combination of nerves and lack of sleep. I’m sure everything is fine.
Re: My Little Pony XXXI: The Great and Powerful XXXie!
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