Author's Note: I am a monster for that cliffhanger. I apologise most profoundly.

Princess Celestia looked out from her perch in her room at Canterlot Castle. She sensed a disturbance in the land, but she couldn't quite put her hoof on it. She was still, however, experiencing spasms of energy telling her that the Elements of Harmony had been passed on. For that, she was pleased. Grateful.

Her sister, Luna, stood next to her. Dusk was one of the rare times the two sisters could spend time together. Celestia's eyes were glowing with the same energy her horn was emitting. She dragged the sun down, staining the sky an array of warm colours. Luna watched appreciatively, then spoke.

"Are you alright, Celly? You seem... worried."

"I can sense a disturbance," murmured Celestia. "However, the spasms of Element energy is far more powerful. I am glad that Twilight carried out her duty well, as well as her friends. But they are not done yet..."

"Why?" asked Luna curiously. "Is there an Element missing? I could go retrieve it!"

At this, the younger alicorn's wings raised, and her face lit up hopefully. Celestia chuckled at her sister's willingness and eagerness.

"No, Luna, all the Elements are there. The most powerful one has not been passed on, yet. That is all."

"The Element of Magic..."

Luna lit up her horn in preparation, as the last rays of sun began to slowly disappear. She began to bring on the night, the stars popping up quicker and quicker as she raised the moon. Celestia's eyes and horn died down as Luna's grew brighter.

"I shall retire to my quarters, now," yawned Celestia.

"Sweet dreams, dear sister," whispered Luna, as her older sister disappeared through the grand doors, her guards saluting her before Luna's guards replaced them.

---

Everypony instinctively collapsed to the floor as one of the library walls exploded completely. Dust and rubble descended on them, and the mares made sure that the fillies were safely out of harm's way before staggering to their hooves. Spike yelled in horror as he saw all the books had toppled over on to Twilight, burying the lavender unicorn.

The dragon, along with Applejack and Rainbow Dash, ran to Twilight's aid. Applejack continuously bucked off books, while Spike grabbed them and tossed them over his shoulder. Rainbow mimicked the dragon.

Soon, Twilight was out of her tome prison, and coughing like no tomorrow. She cantered to the window and threw it open, before breathing in great lungfuls of cool night air.

"Are you okay, Twilight?" asked Spike nervously.

"No!" Twilight managed to cough out. "It felt horribly suffocating in there, like I was gonna die of lack of oxygen or something!"

"But I've been buried by books tons of times!" chirped Pinkie.

"Same here," chorused the Crusaders.

"Maybe it was just a lot of books?" suggested Fuzzy. Twilight, however, shook her head.

"No, for some reason all those books were open. And the history section was on the wall that exploded. And they're the most heavy ones!"

"So ya'll think somepony did 'at on purpose?" said Applejack skeptically.

"It seems awfully unlikely," murmured Fluttershy. "If, um, that's okay with you..."

"I, on the other hoof, think Twilight's guess is as good as any!" exclaimed Rarity, tossing her dust-filled mane. "Either they are criminals against fashion, or they were purposely trying to harm Twilight!"

"And Twilight was the closest to the history section at the time," piped up Ruby.

"This is insane!" growled Berry Punch, advancing on Twilight. "You called us here ensuring our safety, and now this! You could have gotten somepony killed!"

"I don't like history," said Ditzy, pulling a face.

"Me neither!" sang Dinky. "All dusty and old and boooo-ring!"

"She's even taking after you, Pinkie," acknowledged Dash with a nod. Pinkie Pie giggled.

"Calm down, Ms. Punch," said Sweetie Belle soothingly. "It was a coinci... a coh.. a... um..."

"A coincidence!" cut in Applebloom.

"Yeah, a total coincidence!" added Scootaloo. "You can't blame Twilight, even if she's an egghead!"

"Rainbow Dash!" snapped Twilight, glaring at said pegasus.

"Scootaloo!" snapped Rainbow, glaring at said filly.

"Oops," said Scootaloo sheepishly. "Sorry, Twilight, Rainbow Dash! Didn't mean it, I promise!"

"These books could have easily suffocated a pony if she stayed there too long," mused Spike, examining the fallen books. "In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd say that this was a planned attack with strategically placed books!"

A large, collective gasp went up around the room, Pinkie Pie and Dinky Doo leading it.

"This must be one of the first attempted murders in Equestria..." murmured Twilight, running a hoof over one of the book's embossed covers. "Well, that settles it! Everypony, we're going to Canterlot to talk to the Princesses!"

The fillies suddenly began cheering in excitement. The Crusaders were happily chatting about their brief stay at Canterlot Castle during Shining Armour and Princess Cadence's wedding. Dinky and Peachy were listening in awe, and the mares were talking seriously about the suspected murder attempt.

But it was Ruby who dropped the bomb, Ruby who realised the true intent of the said murder attempt, Ruby who looked around at the glistening Elements and realised something terrible, something horrible.

"Where's the Element of Magic?"

---

"And so the near death of Twilight was merely an addition, a bonus in other words?"

"Yes, Princess, indeed," said Twilight, as Celestia frantically paced her large, spacious, lavishly decorated room. A diamond chandelier hung from the ceiling, and there were many windows, each one safely fastened and closed.

"So you looked high and low for the Element, and could not find it?"

"Nope," said Ruby.

Princess Celestia sighed, then looked up high to the heavens, as though she could see past her ceiling up to the clouds.

"My little ponies, it seems that Tick Tock has returned."