The morning following the discovery of the letter arrived. The group of ponies readied themselves for anything they might encounter in the Everfree Forest. They brought extra precautions for the wildlife as if it was what induced the most fear during this journey.
“Okay, the letter didn’t specify where in the Everfree Forest so we better start looking” Commanded Twilight, eager to discover what in Equestria was going on.
“Hey! I have an idea, what if we go to Zecora’s, she’s always got some wacky potion which fixes everything” Pinkie suggested as they were nearing Zecora’s home.
“I don’t know Pinkie, I think I trust my magic over some concoction thrown together by Zecora”
“Ya, but you don’t have your books, so your magic is useless” Pinkie said innocently though Twilight quickly through an angry glance Pinkie’s way.
The ponies heard a loud yell accompanied by a cacophony of “ew”s which could easily be identified as Rarity’s. The ponies looked behind and to the right of them to see Rarity being engulfed in a quicksand like material which resembled Swampwater.
“Hold still Rarity, you’ll just make it worse” Twilight warned
“What do you mean hold still? I’m being eaten by the ground!” Rarity began to panic and let out yelps.
Applejack looked around for the closest thing to a rope she could find, she settled for ripping a branch off a tree.
“Everyone grab hold! Rarity you grab the other end.” Each pony did as they were instructed.
“Ok on 3 pull, 1…2…3!” with a mighty tug Rarity was released from the ground, although it wasn’t a pretty sight for a pony of Rarity’s standards, she was at least okay.
“Watch your step, we don’t know what is out here in the Everfree Forest.
“I think its time we go back, it looks like if anyone was here, they aren’t anymore.” Twilight said in a defeated voice.
“Don’t you worry ‘bout Spike Twi, we’ll come back tomorrow, and the next day, until we get ‘em back” Applejack said in an attempt to console Twilight.
Twilight let out a soft smile and lead the group back to the library.
“Who could do such a thing?” questioned Fluttershy.
“It’s not about who could, but who would” responded Twilight
“Who in Equestria would steal books?” Rainbow Dash said with a sarcastic tone and an eye roll. Twlight simply responded to the simplistic comment with a disappointed look
“There are few people who would benefit any, if at all, from getting their hands on Starswirl The Bearded’s research. I can currently think of only 3. Me, Princess Luna, and Princess Celestia. All of which we can automatically rule out. This leaves anyone interested in magic. Mainly those interested in magic reside at or around the school of magic centered in Canterlot.”
“Who in the world would steal from you Twi, y’know… especially a book” Applejack chimed in.
“I don’t know, there aren’t that many out there who are interested in the same books I am.” Twilight said, brushing off the book comment.
“C’mon Twilight, think hard, there’s gotta be someone you’ve made angry in the past that had some knowledge like this” Applejack quickly added.
“I’ll try to think, but it will take time.” Twilight hesitantly said with a somewhat defeated air to her voice. “I’ll sleep for now and try to gather my thoughts by morning.” With that Twilight resigned to her mattress and attempted to close her eyes and get at least some sleep after days of near sleepless nights.
Twilight awoke and rubbed her eyes. “What time is it?” she said aloud looking out at the starry sky. What time could it possibly be? She thought to herself. “Can I still not sleep!?” She yelled as she let out a wild shriek.
Twilight rolled around and saw a picture of her and Spike. Tears began to slowly run down her cheeks as she felt re-invigorated to find where her dragon companion had gone. She decided there was no way she would be able to enjoy sleep in such a condition, she began to sort her books and came upon a book. A magic book, a history concerning defensive magic.
She began to practice, feeling reinvigorated she barely felt tired. She practiced until the sun rose to the sky. She had rarely stayed up to this time to see Celestia raise the sun. She loved the sight and it made her feel that maybe losing sleep sometimes wasn’t such a bad thing.
In the morning Twilight rallied her friends. Each of her friends would be the only ones suitable to accompany her on such a perilous quest. She had to not only rescue Spike, recover her books, she also had to find out who in Equestria could possibly be responsible for such a theft.
“Sleep help ya come up with any idea ‘bout who coulda done this Twilight?” Applejack asked.
“I have no idea” said Twilight, she seemed extremely disappointed in herself for allowing this to occur and having no idea of how to fix it.
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Spike saw a shadowy figure appear. He was extremely drowsy, he slowly lifted his head in an attempt to get a better look at the shadowy figure but his vision was blurred and it was an extremely dark room. Spike squinted his eyes and said “Twilight?” in a drowsy voice. The shadowy figure pulled back in disgust at the sound of the name. Spike could make out the snout of mare and a horn but could not see a cutie mark nor was there any color to the figure.
“Twilight? Don’t even confuse me with that sad excuse for a unicorn!” at that instant a small zap of lightning found its way to Spike’s snout. The tiny dragon quickly grabbed his nose with both claws and let out a whimper.
“Don’t even start, you have seen nothing. Just tell me what I want to know and you will never have to feel that again.”
Spike drew back and looked at the figure dumbfounded. “What do you want to know?”
“I want to know how Twilight gets her books.” Said the dark figure.
“W-why would I know that? I don’t even read that kind of stuff, I barely even read. I don’t know where she gets them, she just sends me to Canterlot every once in a while to pick them up.” Spike said nervously.
“Well then, tell me where you go to get the books.” The dark figure snapped, it was beginning to become agitated.
“I go to Princess Celestia, she always has the books.” Spike responded and covered his face with his claws.
A loud growl came from the figure, “I knew you were useless” replied the figure. “Very well then, I guess I’ll just have to wait.” Spike opened his mouth to retaliate but a blue beam hit him in the forehead before he could respond. The baby dragon was now fast asleep.
The figure sighed, “okay fillies, it looks like the rest is up to you, I trust you know what you are supposed to do?”
Two more figures resounded an immediate “Yes ma’am! Anything for you.”
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Twilight and her friends began to brainstorm, they figured going for a walk through the town would help them think. Where would a baby dragon be kept hostage, and by who? Twilight began to think of anypony who could have done this. She began to simply get irritated with herself because her memory was in a terrible state due to her sleeping habits. She wanted to just take a break and relax, but she knew she could not because of the urgency of the matter.
She suddenly came upon an idea. She was great at studying, it was basically the thing she was best at. She told the others to follow her and instantly began to run full speed to the library. She would find a spell book which could locate somepony using one of their possessions. If such a spell existed it would make the search for Spike much easier. Only 5 ponies were on the way to the library, Fluttershy, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity. Twilight was in such a rush she hadn’t even noticed Pinkies absence.
The ponies arrived at the library to find books everywhere. The place looked ravaged, by something other than Twilight’s hoof. It looked like one of Twilight’s normal studying binges. Though, anypony could tell this was not done by Twilight. Pinkie burst through the wall “hey guys, what are you doing here? And why were Snips and Snails here? And why did you ditch me? Did you not want to tell me that you were coming here?” Pinkie began to sob.
Twilight quickly quieted Pinkie, “Pinkie, for one you left us, second, who was here?”
Pinkie pondered over the question for a moment before replying “Snips and Snails, that’s what I just said duh.”
Twilight shrugged off the meaningless comment from Pinkie and thought over the names. Snips and Snails… she knew she’d heard the names before but couldn’t quite remember from where. It suddenly snapped into her mind.
There was only one pony she knew which had two ponies willing to do her bidding whenever she asked. There was only one mare who’s image would cease to quit branding itself on Twilight’s mind. That was Trixie. It had been a long time since anypony had seen ear nor tail of Trixie, not that anypony was sad at that fact. Trixie was one pony everypony was glad was gone.
“Pinkie we don’t have time for your antics, which way did Snips and Snails go?” Twilight said in a rush.
“How should I know, I just said I saw them.”
“So… We’ve got nothing…” Twilight let out a groan and walked into the library.
Twilight began to reshelf again, she was getting used to the process as it was becoming a nearly daily routine.
“There doesn’t appear to be any books missing, so whatever they were looking for they didn’t find it.”
“But Twilight, what would Snips and Snails be looking for in your library?” Asked Fluttershy.
“Another book maybe.” Twilight truly had no idea but with 2 already missing why not just add another one to the list.
“Trixie’s gotta have a reason fer doin’ this. A pony doesn’t just steal another’s books for no reason.” Applejack was trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle which she knew nothing about. She looked to Twilight to see if she had any input as to Trixie’s motives.
Twilight looked away shyly, avoiding admitting her lack of knowledge.
“Well, we should all get a good night’s rest. You all can come to the library tomorrow and we’ll pick up from there.”
With that her friends began their journeys home. Twilight was resentful of herself for lying to her friends but she knew they would only be distractions and obstacles in the way of her goal. She had to discover where Trixie was keeping Spike and she had to discover why two of her most precious books were missing.
Twilight had no leads to go on, the only letter she had gotten was of a false meeting in the Everfree Forest. Twilight had no way to send a letter to Princess Celestia to inform her of the grave matter at hands. She would have to visit her directly, back to the city that had caused this situation, where Spike had first gone missing.
Twilight climbed into her bed and laid down. It had felt like an eternity since she had been allowed to feel the sweet embrace of sleep. She was going to relish in what little sleep she was allowed to have before her big trip in the morning. One on which she would not be taking her friends with her. This was a mission she would not endanger her friends by bringing them.
The sun rose as Twilight opened her eyes to greet a day which she knew would be a difficult one. Twilight procured the swiftest Pegasus pulled chariot one could find. She took spikes favorite plaything, in her mind she knew there was a spell which could track someone based on their possession, there had to be. Magic was capable of anything, this did not only serve the purpose of giving Twilight hope, but also of causing her great fear.
Magic could do ANYTHING, the thought repeated in her head several times. Magic was capable of finding lost ones, aiding the weak, and helping in many tasks. Though for every positive aspect of magic, there was a negative counterpart. There were spells to make ponies disappear forever, harm others, and even create chaos and disorder.
“Don’t worry Spike… I’m coming” Twilight muttered under her breath and she looked forward to the city which she was rapidly approaching.
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Spike awoke still in a cage, but this time there was light. The room was vacant aside from stray symbols drawn around the room. Many of the symbols consisted or shapes with intricate designs interlaced into the interior. Spike had seen symbols like this before when he had peered over Twilight’s shoulder as she was reading an ancient spell book.
These symbols no doubt came from the book he was sent to pickup but was robbed of. Spike spotted a book neatly laid in the corner of the bare room, it looked as if it had been read as it was not in the original wrapping.
Spike wanted nothing more than to see any of his friends come to his recue. He imagined them bursting through the door and exclaiming that he was safe. He could see Rarity opening the cage and greeting him with a kind “Spikey-Wikey” and embracing him to relish his safety. Before he could finish his thought a loud crack rippled through his brain as the door was slammed open.
“I’m saved!” He exclaimed as he expected his 6 friends to walk in gallantly. His hope was quickly destroyed by a blue pony followed by 2 fillies walking through the door.
Spike quickly recognized the cocky pony and gave her a strange look.
“So you’re behind this? What in the world do you need Twilight’s book for?”
“You little foal, such a simplistic creature can not comprehend the secrets held within that book.” Trixie motioned to the tome in the corner of the room.
Spike gave a puzzled look and shrugged off Trixie’s insult.
“Ya, I don’t get it but why couldn’t you get the book on your own instead of stealing it? I knew you were a rude pony, but not a thief.”
“You watch what you call The Great And Powerful Trixie you stupid dragon.” The two fillies voices responded in sync as a response to the dragon’s accusations.
Trixie shook her head side to side.
“You just don’t get it do you? This book contains spells researched by the master of unicorn magic himself, Starswirl knew things nopony else did. He had secrets which any unicorn in the modern day would pay in excess for. This particular book is extremely rare, it contains segments of his personal notes concerning Omniamporphic spells.”
Spike gave her a puzzling look, he was perplexed by what she had said.
Trixie threw a grudging look the dragons way.
“In other words, I can become anything I want, with no limitations. I could become a Pegasus if I pleased, or an Alicorn, I could become all powerful with this book.”
“So, what do you intend to do with this power anyway?”
“What else, I intend to get my revenge on that impeding purple unicorn, the one who ruined my stage show for years to come. As for you, my little dragon, you are an extremely important part of this plan."