The New Moon Saga
Prologue: Theft
Ponies, while vastly influential to the world around them, have strived to keep their hooves on the ground for thousands of years (though this is figuratively speaking in the case of pegasi). They get curious, just like anypony else, and every now and then one of them will find a method of becoming more powerful than they really should. This information eventually ends up inside the Library of Power; A massive structure built to keep the information out of evil, and or misguided hooves. It's called a library because, on occasion, some will be permitted inside to partake of this knowledge. Only those who are worthy, and absolutely desperate for the library's help may enter. Finding the place otherwise is an arduous task, and one that could only ever be done by the most arduous and meticulous of ponies, for the library was built on top of a constantly moving formation of cloud. The library moves every day and only the ferry to and from it knows its exact location.
The Library of Power is ten stories tall, with every floor above ground level being made up of catwalks that run the circumference of the building. From ground level you can look up and see all the way to the highest ceiling, which is adorned with a beautiful painting of Princess Celestia with her wings spread wide, the sun shining brightly behind her, making it look as though she's illuminating the entire library. Bookshelves cover almost all of the walls. These books range from thick to thin, large to small, tattered to new. On every floor there are numerous wooden desks, each equipped with a small oil lamp. On the bottom floor there are numerous doors leading to private reading quarters. These small, secluded rooms are warm, cozy, and quiet. No expense was spared on aesthetics. The main materials used were white marble and crimson velvet, with highly varnished wood making up the doors, desks and banisters. Despite, or maybe because it is a place that only a select few would ever see, the library was stunningly beautiful.
It was a rainy night. Many weeks had passed without even a splattering of rain; now the ponies were compensating for their binge of lush weather by inducing a storm. The day prior had been spent filling the clouds with moisture until they bulged and turned grey. They were then used to block the setting sun completely, allowing the rain to take prominence during the night, when most ponies would be at home sleeping.
The rain was still light at that moment. Inside the library, all anypony would've heard of it's presence was a soft, almost melodic drumming on the rooftop. The calming atmosphere, which could make even the most jaded of ponies take a deep breath and collect their thoughts, was abruptly broken when a terrifyingly loud bang sounded through the halls, followed by the sound of splintering wood and falling rubble. The once muffled tone of the rain outside had instantly risen in volume. Amongst the upsetting orchestra of chaotic noises, a faint twinkle could be heard, which was a tell-tale sign of Unicorn magic.
Another loud noise immediately followed, in the form of a piercing siren, calling to attention all of the guards within the library. They all looked alike, muscular pegasi clad in golden armour. A dozen of them converged on one of the reading rooms. Ramming the door open, they found that something had gone missing from their precious library; not a book or so they initially thought, but rather the room's fourth wall. A hole spanning nearly the entire length of the wall had been blasted through it, exposing the books and the upholstery to the elements that raged outside. The guards scanned the sky outside, hoping to see something. One guard noticed a faint shape flying in the distance. Without hesitation or pause for thought, he silently alerted his colleagues. A team of four of them spread their wings and leaped through the hole in the wall, taking to the sky in pursuit of their unknown suspect.
As though fate was mocking them, the storm suddenly took a turn for the worse. The relatively calm winds suddenly accelerated until it was more like a powerful gale. The rain also started lashing down heavier than before, whipping the pegasi in the eyes as they flew. These conditions made it impossible to give chase and the guards knew it. They could already feel how badly the wind was blowing them off course, and decided to call off the chase until morning. A few regretted their decision, but still returned to the library. One guard looked to the sky one last time, and saw the figure again, barely visible by that point. It was braving the storm as if it was nothing, even partaking in some intricate aerial manoeuvres as it flew. A truly shameless display.
"How can a pony fly like that?" The guard thought to himself.
As they were about to leave, An ear-splitting laugh suddenly flooded into the library from outside. They couldn't tell exactly where the laugh was coming from; it seemed to be being carried by the wind itself. It sounded triumphant, spiteful, and superior.
"We've been robbed! On the third floor!" Shouted down another guard. They made a quick run for the third floor. A few were already guessing at what had been stolen, since that exact floor only had one item worth stealing. As they bounded up the stairs their suspicions were immediately confirmed. A glass case, shattered, and missing its contents was waiting for them. Another guard was already standing next to the scene, stone faced as the rest but clearly trying to contain his frustration.
"The Guide's been stolen." He muttered, putting into words exactly what everypony else had already deduced.
"We'd best call the Princesses." Another guard finished for him. It wasn't looking good.