A bright green tail and mane bounced their way down the steps to a jauntily hummed tune. A weak but determined green glow surrounded a tray bearing a steaming teapot and a plate of peanut and chocolate topped cookies. The bright sunlight streamed down through the windows, illuminating the library interior with a warm glow. Tia, as per her usual, was sitting at the newly assembled front desk for the library. She apparently felt more comfortable when she had a desk to take charge of instead of the free-form style Twilight had preferred. “One mid-day snack, as ordered!” The pony formerly known as a Spike the Dragon proclaimed, setting the tray down gently upon the desk’s top.

Tia turned a bright smile to him, a pile of parchment scrolls neatly stretched out and held open by a couple of weights. “Thanks, Flare. Just a few more of these letters, and I’ll finally be completely caught up.” She expelled a heavy breath, then laughed softly. “Which means that something else will come up within about an hour of me feeling like I can finally take a little time for myself.” She rolled her eyes, and Emerald Flare had to chuckle a little at it.

“Yeah, it’s always been like that around here. You get used to it,” Flare said with a smirk, turning to eyeball his new visage in the mirror. Sadly, just like Twilight, Tia had refused to give him a magnificent mustache to go with his new look. Still, he didn’t look too bad! Even if he was still a teenaged colt. He peered over her desk - already a war-zone of papers, quills, ink bottles and stams, and… “Hey, you don’t usually keep books on the desk here,” Flare noted, squinting his eyes in concentration and lifting the book shakily off the table with his unicorn magic to examine the cover. “Why isn’t there a title? Is this from the restricted section?”

Tia’s writing paused in mid word on one of the parchment sheets - lifting the fancy steel-nibbed pen from the parchment and setting it aside. “No, Flare. That’s for you,” She said with a solemn seriousness, and Flare had to stare at her. A book? For him? “I know you’re not going to be around much longer now that I can administer this place. So, I thought I ought to give you a little going-away present.” Tia smiled… mysteriously. “It’s a very special book of magic, just for you. So keep it safe, okay?”

Flare nodded absently. Truthfully, he had never been a huge reader - except for fiction or the occasional bit of dragon lore - but the last two weeks had taught him that the only way he was going to get his new Magic under control was to read about it. And since he very, very much wanted his magic firmly under control, he was glad Tia was at least trying to further his education. Tia wouldn’t have given him a book he couldn’t handle either, so he nodded and gave her a little smile. Just like Twilight, she always thought of books when it came to gifts. “Sure will. Did you write it yourself?” He wouldn’t have been surprised at that - she had apparently written more than a few books on the subject of magic.

Tia nodded, lifting the pen back up with her magic - now a bright violet glow, like her eyes, ever since what had happened on the hill. “Yes. My finest work, I think.” She scribbled the remainder of the sentence she’d been working on, then gave the parchment a little puff of breath before rolling it up. “I wrote it a very long time ago. Well. It is perhaps more accurate to say I wrote the original a very long time ago. It hasn’t changed much throughout the years… until today.” She nodded at the book. “That book will bear very little resemblance to the original. I can but hope it was wise to do so."

Flare shook his head with a chuckle, “You are wayyyy too much like Twilight,” He drawled, carefully tucking the book into a saddle bag. “Seriously. You two even sound the same when you worry about stuff. Anyway, I’m going to go check on the Crusaders and make sure they’re packed for the trip. Are you sure you don’t want to come with us? The Library’ll survive for a couple of days without you.” Once again, Flare felt a stab concern through his heart. The last thing he wanted was for the pony he thought of as his mother, and the pony he now thought of as a close friend still feuding with one another.

But Tia shook her head sadly. “The time isn’t right for me to come back to Canterlot. Besides, I’m apparently going to ‘have company’ this weekend.” Tia turned her head away while her cheeks colored, and Flare couldn’t help but grin a little. “And I’ve not been given much choice in the matter. Now go! Skedaddle! Shoo! And have a safe trip!” She flicked her hooves at him and he decided - in his infinite pony wisdom - to comply, trotting out the door while stifling his laughter.

“You look ridiculous.”

An amused, distinctly feminine voice rolled out of a figure standing next to him, and King Sombra - currently in disguise - lifted up his sunglasses to give her a frank look. “You’re one to talk. What in the name of the powers has happened to fashion in this day and age?” He growled out - not that he didn’t appreciate the look. The sleek blue saddle looked more than merely fetching upon his beloved, and the skirt attached to it seemed designed to draw attention to her flank rather than covering anything.

Queen Chrysalis, also in disguise, half glared at him through her slim eyeglasses - though there was a little color in her cheeks too. “At least what I’m wearing looks sexy. You look like a schoolcolt,” said she with a sly smirk on her face. Sombra grumbled and adjusted the swimming trunks he had purchased to ‘blend in’. Personally, he thought they were quite comfy - and did a fine job of obscuring anything which might be… embarrassing to have in public.

“You’d best be careful then, lest I decide to act upon my teenaged lusts.” He leered at her and was gratified to get a little more color in his beloved’s cheeks. “Have a seat, dearest. You look like you have something you want to talk about.” He patted his hoof next to him, a touch of basic unicorn magic adjusting the umbrella so as to provide her with a little shade of her own.

Chrysalis settled down next to him and then hesitated. She had something she wanted to say… but she was worried about the implications. So Sombra waited, sipping his fruity drink idly - Chrysalis would talk when she was good and ready to do so. “I have… received a letter from Celestia,” she said, and Sombra nearly spit out his drink in astonishment. “She is…” Chrysalis stumbled over her words, then shook her head and thrust the scroll at his face. “Just read it, and tell me if I have perhaps gone insane.”

Sombra stared at the much wrinkled scroll, then with a puzzled tilt of his head slowly unrolled it. “How on earth did she know to find us here?” He asked quietly, and Chrysalis simply shook her head and gestured at the scroll. His eyes trailed over the words, drawing in the careful horn-writing, and a sense of astonishment growing in him with each paragraph. “This is… Interesting,” He purred out, licking at his chops.

“Tell me there is some kind of plot here.” Chrysalis was now gesturing frantically at the letter. “Tell me there is some scheme here that I am somehow missing, else she almost sounds…” Her hooves went skyward, as though she lacked the vocabulary to describe the word - then hissed in frustration. “Sincere.” Sombra couldn’t help it - he burst out laughing at that, and got a smack on his shoulder for his troubles. “Stop that! This is… this is utterly, totally and completely unlike her, and you know it!” She snatched the letter out of his hooves and looked like she wanted to crumple it up into a ball. “I just...I cannot believe this. It does not make any sense.”

“Beloved… don’t rip it.” Sombra’s voice soothed softly, gently reaching out to touch her cheek. “Think. How many desperate souls have come to us - or those like us - over the years, holding their broken faith in hoof and searching for a better answer?” He felt his lips stretch slowly, his grin becoming more wolfish by the moment. “Everything she had was shattered, beloved. It is no surprise that she has left behind that which she was. It is even less surprising that she now seeks guidance and comfort from those she has wronged.” Sombra felt a bubbling laugh leap from his throat. “I think we ought to go see her as soon as our little vacation here is over… Talking with her might yield unexpected dividends."

Chrysalis sighed, but nodded a little and snuggled up next to him with a sly smile. "Well since we're not going to cut our vacation time, why don't you show this lady what you're hiding in those trunks..."

“I am sorry, m’lord. I have failed you. I have failed us all.”

“Failed me? Filthy, dear boy. You have done no such thing. In fact, you’ve succeeded quite beyond my expectations. Now sit down, stop worrying, and listen to me carefully.”

“Yes, M’lord.”

“The Goddess remains alive and safe in Ponyville. As predicted, The Elements of Harmony have been restored and the stage has been set for the next phase of our plans.”

“But… She is..”

“She is changed, yes. But we anticipated that. That it has happened in a manner we did not understand should only serve as proof that we must not become complacent as we move forward.”

“Yes, M’lord. What is our next move, then?”

“For you? Nothing. You have done well, Mister Rich, but we shall not need your assistance for this next phase. Go and spend time with your family. Relax. Try to not attract the attention of Nightmare Twilight. We have already had to sacrifice poor Blueblood to her to keep her off our scent.”

“I understand. Glory to the Goddess, m’lord.”

“Glory to the Sun, Mister Rich. We will be in touch.”

…

“Is he gone?”

“Yes. Keep an eye on him. Have you confirmed our suspicions?”

“Yes, M’lord. The Goddess’ divinity remains intact, but all reports indicate she is less than interested in reclaiming it.”

“Good. Things are going to become interesting here in Canterlot very soon, and I shall be busy making sure all of the pieces are in the appropriate places. I need your assurance that we will not have problems in Ponyville until we are ready.”

“It will be done, M’lord.”

“You’re quite sure?”

Twilight cast an irritated glance at Cadence before stifling the feeling. Why was she getting so overly emotional lately? It wasn’t like her. “Yes, I’m sure. He’s quite firmly sealed in there - and if he wasn’t before, I’ve added enough shielding to make sure that nothing is going to get through without us knowing about it.” She blew out a soft sigh and leaned against the marble bannister that overlooked the gardens. Now that her project was done, Twilight once again felt all of the energy run out of her all at once. And once again, as though she knew exactly what to do, Cadence gently wrapped her hoof around Twilight’s shoulder and pressed her cheek to Twilight’s.

And just like she had for the last two weeks, Twilight gently leant in to the physical reassurance and closed her eyes tightly. “I’m sorry, Cadence. I’m trying, it’s just…” A hoof met Twilight’s mouth and she decided that shutting up for once might actually be the right thing to do. So she did so, and simply nuzzled against her sisters cheek. For a few long minutes, Twilight simply reveled in the gentle reassurance and warmth. Would the Baron succeed? Would Harmony take pity on Twilight and guide Celestia back to where she belonged? Twilight didn’t know. The world - once shaky and odd but still obviously on a predictable pathway had gone completely off the rails.

The future was dark and uncertain to Twilight, and all she now had to go on was her powerful self assurance that the only way to escape the uncertainty was to charge forward. The Temple of the Moon Lady was already under reconstruction in Canterlot, and even now she and Cadence were hammering out the details for their next round of reform for the Equestrian legal system. Not to mention the changes she had to make to reinvigorate the once defunct Night Court. “I think Night Court will survive without you for a few days.” Cadence murmured softly, echoing Twilight’s thoughts at that moment. “You need to go and spend some time with your friends and family. You especially need to go speak with Phantasma and your father.” There, Cadence’s voice turned firm and unyielding.

Twilight opened her mouth to rebut… and then shut it softly. No. Cadence was right. That was one conversation she needed to have, no matter how much it might pain her to do so. So she sighed and nodded her head slowly, and in the spur of the moment… kissed Cadence’s cheek. “Thanks, sis,” Twilight said shyly, and Cadence gave off a melodious sounding giggle and kissed her cheek right back. “Okay. You’re right, and I’ve probably just been working too hard,” Twilight said, waving a hoof in midair. “I need to think of happier things. Maybe I'll go find Pinkie Pie and let her drag me to one of her parties.”

Cadence nodded firmly, then a wicked smile crossed her face. “And go spend some time with Luna, too. In fact, if I see either of you anywhere but in private quarters with each other tonight, I am going to tie you both up and punish you until you get the message! She loves you, Twilight. Let her in to your heart a little more.” And with that, Cadence gently patted her shoulder and quickly trotted off. Just like Cadence to know Twilight needed to work some things out on her own.

So Twilight turned away from the bannister and trotted out towards the main hall, determined to do something a little more constructive and happy with her day. Her hoofsteps took her to her private chambers, and she slowly picked her away across the room - lifting up stacks of books and reshelving them as she went. Her mind travelling, unintentionally, to the once baby purple dragon who had always helped at this job…

Less than an hour after leaving the library, Spike found himself aboard the train bound for Canterlot. The Cutie Mark Crusaders - having now added Dinky Doo, one cute little bugpony whose name Flare hadn’t caught, and a young batpony by the name of Star Song to their ranks - chattered endlessly about all the things they would see in Canterlot. Fortunately, Flare had not been forced to watch over them alone. Miss Octavia and an older batpony mare named Shadow Song had volunteered to act as chaperones, and the pair of them were chatting quietly about some musical thing.

With the world in its proper place, Flare quietly pulled the book Tia had given him from his bags. The book was bound in a purple material exactly the color of Twilight’s coat, and had a star which looked awfully like Twilight’s, except it was pure silver embroidered on the cover. Setting the tome down in his lap, he flipped open the book’s cover to examine the first page. His eyes ranged over the words there - a foreword, instead of the usual title page.

To Emerald Flare -

Over the years, you have watched over my most faithful student with courage and tenacity. Wherever she went, so did you go. Whenever she needed you, you were there. Such love, such dedication is rare even amongst ponies, and is even rarer amongst the draconic race. You were right, I think, when you told me that you were far more a Pony than you were anything else. Which is why I have decided to pen you a copy of this book.

This book is very special, Flare. It is a book I have only given to a worthy few over countless centuries. It is special even moreso, because this is the very last copy of this book I will ever pen. It is my final word, my magnum opus, on the subject of Harmony. If ever another of this book is written, it will be by hooves and horns other than mine. My time as guide and guardian has passed, I think. It must now fall to a new generation to pick up where I have left off.

More importantly, I have left this book in your care for three very good reasons.

The first reason is who you are. As I have already said - you have shown yourself to possess every virtue of Harmony. You have been Loyal in times of crisis and need. You have been Honest with your friends - sometimes to a fault. You have shown great Generosity to the ones you love. You have always held great Kindness for others in your heart, and you have never failed to add a little Laughter to all of our lives. I do not think I need to expound upon how your Friendship has turned the tide, either.

The second reason is due to the world to come. I do not think it is dramatic for me to say that we live in the most tumultuous time in the history of our race. Not since the Tribal Wars has pony plotted against pony in a bid for power and influence. You are wholly of this world, Flare. You have seen it grow into what it is today, you have been in the councils of many of the great and powerful. Even more importantly, you stand at a crossroads between those Powers which now seek to remake the world.

The final reason is a personal one. There are now precious few ponies I can turn to and trust in. Those who had once been my disciples cannot learn of my new life, lest their faith in Harmony be broken. Those who had once been my allies would seek to capitalize on my newly diminished power and influence. And my enemies? The less said of them, the better. My resources for affecting change in the world are few and far between now.

And so I give this book to you, Emerald Flare. Last of my faithful students. I hope that it will illuminate you, as once similar words illuminated me. I will do whatever I can to tutor you in the meaning and techniques within, and I advise you to speak with Cadence should you require more advanced training.

Whatever happens, know that I am thankful to call you my friend. Good luck in Canterlot.

Walk in Harmony, Emerald Flare.

-Tia Sunbeam

Flare stared at the words for a while, mulling them over in his mind before turning to the next page. The words were written in a simple, angular script. Not at all like the flowing curlicues of Old Equish. The title was a little gentler in terms of appearance - softer, rounder. The title itself? Intriguing, to say the least. So Emeral Flare flipped to the next page and began to read the book, wondering why Tia had decided to give it to him. Maybe he’d finally learn what all this fuss over Harmony and Dissonance was about.

Whatever it was, something told him it was at least gonna be interesting.

Author's Notes:

And so it ends.

Finally.

Author notes to come some time later this week. I dunno when, just... sometime later this week.

Announcement for my first mini-project will come by friday.