Chapter 5: The point of No Return
It was a peaceful day in Ponyville at the School of Friendship, and Muffins flew over to the school airlifting a large package. Spike was near the entrance reading a comic, and then heard something as he turns to see her coming in fast.
"Whoa!" Spike quickly ducks as Muffins flies over him and hits the ground. "Twilight, Chase, mail's here!"
The doors opened as Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and Bagheera came out when they saw Muffins pancaked on a pole as she slid down, making Twilight gasp at the sight.
The three went over to check on Muffins.
"Are you alright?" Twilight asked with concern.
"Derpy, how did you manage to get this box down here?" Chase asked curiously.
"Sorry, Master Chase. We just had a really heavy delivery today." Muffins replied back.
"I can see that." Nyx said while she looked at Muffins with a nervous smile. "Maybe you should work on your landing."
"Yeah, I've seen other pegasi at Japon carry some heavy deliveries before. But nothing like this." Bagheera added with a smile as Spike rushed next to the package.
"Is it a deluxe set of special edition Orges and Oubliettes figurines that I'm totally surprised by and have been hinting that I need forever?" Spike asked as he smiled happily and hugged the box.
"Well, it's for Twilight and Chase." Muffins explained uneasily to him.
"Awww..." Spike sadly sighed.
"Thank you." Twilight said as she smiled with Chase.
"Thanks, Muffins." Chase said.
"You're welcome!" Muffins replied and flew off.
"Sometimes I wonder how Muffins doesn't learn to control her landing so much." Bagheera said to the others with a smirk as Chase, Twilight, and Nyx shared the same expression with him.
"Trust me, Bagheera. It's a long story that you probably don't wanna know." Chase said as Twilight looked at who sent the package. "Who's it from?"
"Huh. It's from Princess Celestia, honey." Twilight said to her husband and then suddenly Spike burped as a letter appeared.
"So is this." Spike said, grabbing it. "Really? She couldn't have put it into the box?"
"Maybe it was full." Nyx said with a smirk as Bagheera silently chuckled.
"I guess there's only one way to find out what she brought for us." Twilight said as she took the scroll from Spike and read it. "My dearest Twilight and Chase, I have been conducting a thorough cleaning of the castle, and I came across a few items of yours in your old room. I thought you might want them back." I didn't even know I'd left anything!"
"Well, let's open it and see what's inside." Chase suggested with a smile.
Twilight then opens the box revealing dozens of items and brings out a picture frame with glued macaroni.
"Awww, look, Chase! Remember this?" Twilight said as she smiled at the picture frame with Chase, Nyx, Spike, and Bagheera looking at it. "It's the macaroni picture frame Cadance helped me make when I was a filly!"
"You're right, honey." Chase said as he smiled at the picture. "And it still has the macaroni sticking to it."
The frame showed a family photo of Twilight with her brother, Spike and her parents when she was young.
"Aww! That's actually cute." Nyx said as she smiled and giggled.
"Nice work on it." Bagheera added with a smile of his own.
"Who could forget a masterpiece like that?" Spike muttered quietly sarcastically and then Twilight slammed the frame against him clearly hearing him as the alicorn mare, Chase, Nyx, and Bagheera glared at him disapprovingly.
"Don't mock the artwork, Spike." Chase said sternly as Spike nervously smiled at him. Then Chase looked inside and found his plush Dragon Lord Torch, as he grabbed it with his magic. "Hey, look! It's my Dragon Lord Torch plush!" He then noticed a wooden katana, a set of actions of the White Lotus clan, and an Elite Ninja comic book. "And here's my wooden katana I made! As well as my White Lotus clan action figures collection and my Elite Ninja comic book."
Chase smiled as Twilight giggled, finding her husband's collectables making him smile rather cute.
Twilight then turned her attention back to the box and she brought out an old Star Swirl action figure.
"My G1 Star Swirl figure!" Twilight said, smiling at her favorite action figures and she brought out some scrolls. "And some of my favorite school scrolls!" She hands them to Spike as he falls to the ground. "And here's my extra extra credit report on "The Impediments of Using Magic in Everyday Chores"!"
"Well, you always like to gain class reports and get some real extra credit, honey. You take pride in these things for fun." Chase said with an amused smile
"Ha! Still so true, my love." Twilight said with a smug proud smile before she continued to read the report as Chase smirked at his wife.
"Is my Smash Fortune comic in there?" Spike asked as he climbed onto the box's rim. "I've been looking for that for years. Whoa, whoa!"
He then falls in the box and then Bagheera climbs onto it with Nyx hovering beside the panther cub.
"I wonder what else is in there." Bagheera said curiously and Spike moves a few things aside as he lifts up a library book.
"Or this." Spike said with his voice muffled, which gained Chase's attention and he gave one good look at the book.
"Hey, isn't that…?" Chase asked curiously while Twilight sets the scroll down before she turns to the book and looks at it as she recognizes it.
"Oh, no!" Twilight said as she panicked and grabs the book with both her front hooves. "Oh, no! Oh, no!"
"What's wrong?" Spike asked as Chase looked at Twilight curiously. "It just looks like an old library book."
"Exactly!" Twilight stated. "It belongs to the Canterlot Library!" And she looks through it. "That means it's..." She then brought the date slip as her's was not checked. "...overdue!"
"So, it often happens." Chase said, thinking it's not a big deal as Bagheera nods in agreement.
*Main theme*
Chase, Nyx, Spike, and Bagheera watched as Twilight paced around with a worried look.
"Mom, don't you think this is just a little accident you forgot about it?" Nyx asked her mother gently with an assuring smile as Chase, Bagheera, and Spike nodded in agreement.
"You don't understand, guys!" Twilight protested with worry. "I have a perfect library book return record!"
Flashback
Twilight then thinks back nearly to the time she went to Ponyville nearly nine years ago when she and Chase were unicorns.
As usual, in the Canterlot Library she got a few books of her interest, and went to the counter to the librarian, who is an elderly mare with a grayish-purple coat color, light pinkish and white mane, her Cutie Mark had an opened book, and yellow eyes.
She was named Dusty Pages as she checks out the books and she opens the third and last book before she stamps the card.
"Make sure you bring this one back on time." Dusty Pages reminded Twilight. "We've got a long waiting list of ponies who can't wait to read it."
"I promise I won't let you down!" Twilight promised as she smiled.
"Oh, of course, you won't, dear." Dusty said confidently as she winked to Twilight. "If there's anypony I can trust to take care of a book, it's you, Twilight Sparkle. After all, you still hold the "Best Book Borrower" title."
She then turns to a picture frame showing Twilight smiling while holding a bo ok.
"Oooh!" Twilight said as she blushed happily. "I hope I do forever!"
Then she leaves to head home to her quarters.
(Scene changes)
Back at her quarters, it was on that day Twilight, Spike, and Chase had a conversation about Nightmare Moon's return as well as discussing Twilight making friends.
"Spi-ike! Quick, find me that old copy of Predictions and Prohecies." Past Twilight said as she climbs up the stairs to her research department as Past Chase and Past Spike climbed up.
Twilight then noticed the bashed package for Moon Dancer that was stuck to Spike's tail.
"What's that for?" Past Twilight asked while eyeing the ruined present curiously.
"Well, it was a package for Moon Dancer, but…" Past Spike said, but he yelped as the gift opened underneath to reveal a worn out teddy bear.
"Oh, how cute… You bought her a teddy bear." Past Chase said with a smile.
"Well, giving it away mostly… Considering I've grown out of it." Past Spike replied back modestly.
"Oh boys, you know we don't have time for that sort of thing," Twilight said as she frowned and looks through her books.
Unknown to her, while she was doing that, the book that she borrowed from the Canterlot Library landed under a desk.
Flashback ended
Cut back to the present, Chase looked a little concerned by that since it was way before they got together as a couple.
"Well, it was that time when you and I had a rift together, honey. Since you were still stuck up in your studies, you still hadn't had the time to make any friends back then." Chase said honestly as Twilight turned to her husband with a glare.
"Yes it was. Thank you, honey." Twilight said sarcastically before she became worried and held the book. "And then Celestia sent us to Ponyville, and I forgot all about this! Dusty Pages prided herself that no books were damaged or lost on her watch, and I failed her! I failed myself!"
"Mom, come on." Nyx said. "That was nearly nine years ago, a lot has happened since. Look, all we have to do is just return it and everything's fine."
"Nyx is right. If we go up and bring this book back, we can straighten it out with Dusty." Chase said in agreement with his daughter.
"I take it we're going to Canterlot?" Spike asked.
Twilight then stuffs the book in her saddle bags and she quickly takes to the air as Chase just shakes his head with a sigh.
"I think we should go after her, guys." Chase said as Bagheera climbs onto the alicorn master's back. "So let's go meet up with Dusty Pages and return the book."
Nyx nodded as the two alicorns flew off to catch up with Twilight with Bagheera holding onto Chase.
"The sooner, the better, I guess." Spike groaned and then he flew off after the four.
(Scene changes)
The five soon reached Canterlot, and landed just outside the Canterlot Library. But then Twilight gasped as she grabs Spike and zips into a bush.
"Honey, what are you doing?" Chase asked as Twilight and Spike peaked out of the bush. "It's no big deal. We've been to the Canterlot Library plenty of times."
"Yeah, why are we hiding?" Spike asked as he agreed with Chase. "Don't you wanna return your book?"
"And don't you want to make it up to Dusty?" Bagheera asked Twilight curiously.
"Yes, Bagheera." Twilight said as she turns to him. Chase, Spike, and Nyx. "But what if somepony sees me in there? Chase and I are the Prince and Princess of Friendship. Everywhere we go, ponies recognize us. I'll stick out like a sore hoof."
"Princess Twilight Sparkle in a library?" Spike said incredulously as he and Bagheera laughed. "Stop the presses!"
"Come on, sweetie. Didn't we basically lived in a library till Tirek came and got our own castle?" Chase said with a skeptical look he sent to Twilight.
"A late book is a big deal, Spike and Chase." Twilight said. "What if Dusty Pages revokes my library card?" She brought out her ID card. "Or bans me from ever entering the building again?!"
"Don't you already have most of those books in your collection at home?" Spike asked as he climbs out of the bush to join Chase, Nyx, and Bagheera.
"Yes, but the ones in there have a special Canterlot Library-y smell!" Twilight said excitedly as she smiled.
"You sniff books?" Spike and Bagheera asked together as they frowned.
"You don't?" Twilight said and then ducks as a Unicorn trots by. "I used to live in a library before Chase and I got married. If I'm not a good example of proper book borrowing behavior, then what kind of princess am I?"
"One that makes mistakes like everypony else." Spike said as he flew up to her. "Trust me. Once you return that book, you'll feel way better."
"Spike's right, honey." Chase said as he, Bagheera, and Nyx approached Twilight as well. "And with us by our side, we'll be with you every step of the way."
"No matter what happens, Mom." Nyx added as well with a smile.
"Thanks, guys." Twilight said to her family with a grateful smile.
"And just relax, Twilight." Bagheera assuringly said with a smile. "All we have to do is go in, explain the long overdue thing, return it, and we're out. Easy."
"You're right, Bagheera. Let's go!" Twilight said as she stepped out of the bush when a unicorn came by, which Twilight panicked and rushed into the bush.
The unicorn mare then walked away from the scene as Twilight came out while giggling nervously.
"Come on, honey. Let's just get this over with." Chase said impatiently and then they begin to head inside the library.
(Scene changes)
They entered inside as Twilight teleported and hid behind a pillar. She then teleported by a table and then under a table with two reading ponies. Chase just looked unamused by this as he made his way to the counter.
"This is gonna be a long day for us." Chase said with an annoyed look on his face.
Bagheera, Spike, and Nyx joined Chase as Twilight appeared and then gasped that the librarian wasn't Dusty Pages. It was a unicorn with a bluish green fur coat as Twilight held a vase covering her face and went up to her.
"I have a book to return." Twilight said in a deep voice.
"Oh, boy." Bagheera said as he and Chase annoyingly groaned.
Then the librarian turns to Twilight and Chase as she recognizes them.
"Princess Twilight! Master Chase!" She exclaimed. "So good to see you!"
Chase gently places a hoof on Twilight as his wife turns to him before she groans in defeat and sets the vase down.
"Need some recommendations from the new release section?" The librarian asked.
Twilight then turns to a cart with some book and gasped.
"Is that the new edition of Mooncurve's Seven Theories on Bending Time! I have been waiting for the release sin-" Twilight said, but Spike and Nyx then poked her to bring her senses of why they're here. "Uh, I mean, uh, no books today! Thanks!"
She chuckled and then the ponies around them gasped in shock.
"But I do need to speak with Dusty Pages about a..." Twilight said as she clears her throat. "... sensitive matter."
"Dusty who?" The librarian asked as she frowned.
"Dusty Pages?" Twilight nervously said as she laughed. "The head librarian? She's worked here forever."
"We were hoping if she was still working at the Canterlot Library." Chase said as Twilight then brought the book out and shows a photo of Dusty to her.
"I'm sorry, princess and prince." The librarian apologized. "I don't know her. Now, was there some other way I can help the library's Best Book Borrower?"
She dusts the photo frame cleaning the picture frame of Twilight as the alicorn mare giggled nervously.
"Just ask where to return an overdue book!" Spike said in a hushed tone while looking at a comic with Nyx and Bagheera. "It's no big deal! It happens all the time!"
"Not to me it doesn't!" Twilight said, hushingly with a stern look and then holds the comic up.
"Oh, hurry up with this, Twilight." Bagheera said angrily. "We don't have all day!"
"Honey, we have to do this. If you don't do it right now, you're grounded for a month." Chase said sternly, causing Twilight to gasp in shock of what her husband said to her and she groans miserably.
"Fine." Twilight said as she sighed and gave out. "Fine!" She then realized something. "Oh, no! I didn't even think about the late fine! A book out this long will probably cost a thousand bits!"
"Okay, that's it." Bagheera gave out. "Spike!"
"Do something to snap her out of it!" Nyx said, not wanting this to take too long.
Spike then quickly grabs the book from her bag and brought it out.
"She- I mean, we have an overdue book." Spike explained and placed the book on the counter and the librarian laughed.
"Well, that's no problem at all. In fact, it happens all the time." The librarian said with an assuring smile.
"See?" Spike said to Twilight as he turns to her.
The librarian then came back with a row of cards.
"I'll just find it in the card catalog." The librarian said and looks through them. "Uh, number 189-oh-5, got it!" She looks at the card and was surprised by what she saw. "Oh, wow. Yeesh." She then cringed. "I haven't seen a book this late in... well, ever" She then clears her throat.
"Yeah, it's kinda of a long story." Chase said and smiled nervously before he recomposes himself. "Anything we can do to fix that?"
"Yes, Master Chase. You need to go and see First Folio in the Grossly Overdue Book Return Office for Ponies Who Should Know Better." The librarian explained.
"Don't pull any punches with those names, do you?" Twilight asked as she felt guilty and placed the book in her bag.
"And that office would be...?" Spike asked.
"In the basement." The librarian said and she whispered the last part. "Because of the shame."
She then leaves as Twilight slams her head against the counter.
"Well, I guess the only way to go there is down the stairs." Chase said with a look of concern he shared with Spike, Nyx, and Bagheera.
(Scene changes)
They then headed down to the library's basement to meet First Folio as they made their way to a door to the end.
"Well, we're here." Chase said and then Spike's right wing got caught in a web.
"Whoa." Spike said and then pulled free. "Looks like nopony ever goes down here."
"Yeah, this place looks like it hasn't been dusted for months. Years even." Bagheera said while tapping a book shelf as some of the chipping wood came off it.
"Nopony except undependable rule-breakers who deserve all the horrors this hallway holds!" Twilight complained to her family and the black panther cub.
"And faithful dragon companions." Spike said as he quickly rejoined her with Chase, Bagheera, and Nyx. "Uh... hey!" He noticed a door. "It looks like First Folio left a note on the door!"
"Abandon hope, all ye who enter"?" Twilight sarcastically guessed as Chase places a hoof on his wife's shoulder as she nuzzled his cheek and Nyx hugged her mother for comfort as well.
Spike and Bagheera went up to the door and looks at the note.
"Out to lunch on Restaurant Row"." Spike reads the note. "Guess we'll have to try back later!"
"No!" Twilight said as she stopped him. "I can't wait another minute to return this book! In the time it took us to get there, I racked up another..." She then thinks. "Seventeen bits in late fees! We're going to lunch!"
"Then I guess the best place would to check out the restaurant she went to and see if Dusty Pages is there too." Chase said with a determined look on his face as Twilight nodded in agreement with her husband.
"Good, 'cause I'm starving!" Spike said and licked his lips.
Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and Bagheera just glared at him as the alicorn mare arched a brow.
"Oh." Spike said, realizing something. "You mean to find First Folio."
"Exactly." Chase said as he, Bagheera, Nyx, and Twilight rushed off.
"Can we at least get takeout?!" Spike shouted as he ran after the four.
(Scene changes)
Sometime later, their search led them to the Tasty Treat restaurant.
"Tell me if you see any librarian-type ponies." Twilight said.
"Twilight, we tried this at three other restaurants already!" Spike said.
"And my late fines are already up another twenty six more bits!" Twilight added.
"Let's just focus on fixing the problem right now, guys." Chase advised with a glare as Twilight walks off.
"Wow, I'm surprised she's keeping track." Bagheera sarcastically said and Spike sobbed mockingly.
"Don't mock her, you two!" Nyx said angrily, causing Bagheera and Spike to flinch from her tone before they smiled apologetically to the alicorn filly.
Spike looks around for any librarian ponies.
"Waiter, we're ready to order." A Unicorn mare named Pretzel mistaking him for a waiter and with a friend.
"Oh, uh, I'm not actually-" Spike tried to explained.
"Three samosa, two curry specials... Do you think that's enough for the two of us?" Pretzel asked.
"Hm." Spike hummed as he shrugged and brought a notepad out. "Well, I would probably order some naan as well. For the table?"
"Sounds great." Pretzel said.
Twilight and Chase noticed Spike taking the pony's order as they watched the scene with unamused looks.
"Well, looks like Spike is lost to us now." Chase said to Twilight with a blunt look as Nyx and Bagheera joined the alicorn couple.
"Twilight? Chase? Nyx? Is that you guys?" Asked a familiar voice.
Twilight and Chase turned as they saw one of their Canterlot friends, Moon Dancer.
"Moon Dancer! How've you been?" Twilight excitedly beamed as she and Chase approached Moon Dancer. "I'm just visiting. No real real reason. Heh."
"Hey, Moon Dancer. Good to see you." Chase greeted the unicorn mare with a smile.
"Well, it's good to see you guys!" Moon Dancer beamed. "I'm just meeting my friend, First Folio. for lunch." Then she went to a table with a mid-aged Unicorn with a sand colored coat, purple and light purple mix mane and reddish yellow eyes. "Do you want to join us?"
"First Folio?! Yes!" Twilight beamed before she recomposed herself. "I mean, thank you."
"Princess Twilight, Master Chase, good to meet you two!" First Folio beamed. "Twilight. Did you know your picture is still up in our library as the Best Book Borrower?"
"Yeah... I was hoping I could talk to Dusty Pages about that." Twilight explained.
"Oh, Dusty Pages left the library moons ago." Moon Dancer sadly said, which shocked and surprised Twilight and Chase. "Didn't you know?"
"Mm-mm." Twilight replied back as she shook her head.
"What happened?" Bagheera asked. "Did she retire or something?"
"Oh, I heard she was forced to leave, Bagheera." First Folio explained sadly. "It's so sad. She loved the library."
"Wait. Forced to leave?" Twilight said in shock.
"Are you sure?" Chase asked with concern for Dusty Pages.
"Yuh-huh, uh-huh, yeah." First Folio said as she nodded. "She had a perfect librarian record. Until one careless pony didn't return a book, ruined it all."
It was then Moon Dancer noticed Twilight looking panicked and nervous.
"Are you okay, Twilight?" Moon Dancer asked concerned for the alicorn mare and she turned to Chase. "Chase, is she feeling alright?"
"Yeah, she just wants to finish an errand or two right now." Chase answered with a nervous chuckle.
"Uh-huh." Twilight added as she nodded nervously while sweating. "Would, uh, you excuse me?"
Then she zipped off and rushed pass Spike with a tray of food next to a table as Chase chased after her with Nyx and Bagheera following behind them. Spikee spun fast like a top and stops and holds the tray still.
"That's why you only order spicy if you can take it." Spike said to the pony.
He then sets the tray on the table and he rushed after Twilight, Chase, Bagheera, and Nyx. Moon Dancer felt there was something going on with the four, but her most concern was for Twilight.
"Hmm." Moon Dancer said, wondering what has gotten into Twilight. "I wonder what Twilight's freaking about."
Back outside, Chase, Twilight, Nyx, Bagheera, and Spike exit outside of the restaurant.
"Twilight, what's wrong?" Spike asked.
"Dusty Pages isn't working at the library anymore because I didn't return this book!" Twilight said and brought the book out. "Spike, I think I got her fired!"
"I don't know, honey. Maybe there's some sort of explanation to all of this." Chase calculated with curiosity. "We'd better head to her house and see if she's still there."
"Good idea, sweetie." Twilight said as the five left the area to find Dusty Pages' house, not noticing Moon Dancer watching them.
(Scene changes)
Soon they were rushing down the street of Canterlot.
"Twilight, Chase, aren't we going to the library? I mean it's that way!" Spike reminded the alicorn couple before he, Nyx, and Bagheera ran to catch up to them.
"We don't have time for that right now, Spike!" Chase replied back firmly.
"Change of plans." Twilight said. "We're going to Dusty's house. She used to invite me over for tea all the time."
"But what about your late fees?" Spike asked.
"They're not as important as making things right." Twilight protested.
"Wait." Spike said as he frowned. "So you guys are not going to return the book?"
"No. Dusty Pages is." Twilight said.
"But, Mom. How exactly is Dusty going to do that?" Nyx asked her mother curiously.
"It's my fault she lost her job, sweetie." Twilight said to her daughter. "So if I give her the book, she can get her old job back. It'll fix everything!"
"And it looks like we've made it to her house just in time, everypony." Chase said as soon as they got to Dusty's house. Chase then turned to Twilight as his wife turned to her husband. "Alright, honey. Now's your chance."
Twilight nodded in reply as she sighed and then knocked the door. But strangely instead of Dusty, a large stallion pony came out.
"Huh?" Chase, Bagheera, and Nyx said in unison with shocked looks they shared with Twilight and Spike.
"Didn't you see the sign?" The stallion sternly said he gestured to a sign. "No salesponies!"
"Oh, I'm not selling anything." Twilight explained.
"No carolers either." The Meathead pony said. "No surveys, no petitions, no free literature..."
He went inside and closed the door, but Twilight quickly used her magic and stops him.
"No problem." Twilight said. "I'm just looking for somepony who used to live here. I'm pretty sure this was her house."
"The pony that we're looking for is Dusty Pages, sir." Chase said calmly.
"Dusty Pages?" The pony asked as he frowned.
"Yes!" Twilight replied back as she beamed.
"Hold on." He said and went inside to get something.
Twilight, Spike, Chase, Nyx, and Bagheera turned to each other.
"She moved to... Silver somethin'." The pony explained with a large bag. "Shoal, Seas, Surfer, whatever. When you find her, give her this."
Then a bunch of scrolls drops on top of Spike.
"It's been stackin' up for years!" The pony said. "And tell her to change her address!"
He then went back inside.
"Well, that was helpful." Chase said with a sarcastic tone. "Looks as though he's been cranky with mail being delivered here."
"Yeah, Daddy. And my best guess is that she moved to a retirement place." Nyx said in agreement with her father after she theorized as they were unaware of a letter blown away as Moon Dancer catches it with her magic.
In relation, she had followed the five and was surprised that she heard about Twilight not returning her book, it got her suspicious.
(Scene changes)
Soon, the five begin searching wherever Dusty Pages might be. Twilight brought out a map and they flew down to a town and knocked on a door as a pony came and Twilight showed a photo of Dusty, but sadly she didn't recognize her. They went to a mine to see if one of the workers knew her, but one of the mining ponies didn't know her. And strangely they even tried Silverstream.
(Scene changes)
No sooner or later, the five were in the courtyard feeling really exhausted from searching Dusty Pages.
"Ugh, this is getting ridiculous, guys." Chase said as slapped his face with both his forehooves. "We haven't found Dusty Pages, we haven't found out where she lives, and the worst part is we don't even know where she could be."
"Can you blame me for this, Chase." Twilight said miserably as Chase turned to his wife. "I'm the one who got us into this mess with the book."
"I hate to say it, guys. But the fact that we've been looking for Dusty Pages all day, this hasn't been one of our best luck moments." Bagheera said while resting on a rock.
"If only we knew why she left the library in the first place." Nyx said while drinking some water. "But there's still no chance we might see her again. Not to mention the fee we have to deal with too."
Chase conjures a bucket of water and a washcloth as he drenches the liquid. He then takes a hoof full of water and splashes it in his face as he shakes his head before he stops.
"Well, we can't worry about the fee right now. We have to find Dusty and be quicker." Chase said with determination. "We just need to find out where she's living."
The five begin to ponder until some hoofsteps were heard coming their way.
"Well, you guys might wanna start thinking it easier than that." A familiar voice said as they turned to see Moon Dancer coming over to them.
"Oh, Moon Dancer! Nice to see you again. What brings you here?" Twilight greeted the unicorn as she stopped next to the five while looking at the alicorn mare with a casual look.
"Well, you tell me, Twilight. What exactly are you hiding?" Moon Dancer asked with a smirk. "You know, I've been following you guys all over the place in Canterlot and you kept talking about a book?"
Twilight winced as she looked around nervously and smiled at Moon Dancer, but she wasn't buying it.
"Maybe you might wanna explain this?" Moon Dancer said bluntly as she levitated a letter about Twilight's book being delayed nine years ago. "Twilight, why is it that lately you may have something to do with this late fee for Dusty Pages?"
"Moon Dancer, wait! I can explain!" Twilight said nervously and worriedly, but Moon Dancer raised a hoof in the air to silence her.
"You don't have to. I found this letter Spike dropped and apparently you may have a book you forgot to return?" Moon Dancer asked as she showed the letter to the five, more specifically Twilight.
Hearing this made Twilight dart her eyes to the sides a bit before she laughed nervously as Chase sighed.
"Yes, but she completely forgot to return it when we left for Ponyville." Chase explained for his wife as he turned to Moon Dancer. "So we're trying to at least see if we can find Dusty."
In response, Moon Dancer nodded as she turned to Twilight.
"Twilight, if you had forgotten to bring it back to Dusty Pages, why didn't you do it before you left for the Summer Sun Festival?" Moon Dancer asked Twilight gently as the alicorn mare looked away with a guilty expression.
"I don't know. I completely forgot about it. I've never returned a book from being late." Twilight said sadly.
Moon Dancer just looked at Twilight with a sympathetic smile.
"Twilight, it's not your fault. If we can go to Dusty's new retirement home, everything will be fine once you explain it to her." Moon Dancer said gently.
Twilight, hearing this, made her look at Moon Dancer in surprise.
"You-you're gonna help us?" Twilight asked in slight surprise as Moon Dancer nodded in reply.
"And you know what? I think I might have found out where she's living. I went to collect some newspapers to see what Dusty Pages was up too. And I found out that she's at a place called Silver Stable Community."
"Silver Stable Community?" Spike repeated with a curious look. "What's that?"
"It's a place where most of the elders go for their retirement." Chase answered and began to think. "And if you're right, Moon Dancer, that must be where Dusty's living right now."
Moon Dancer nodded in reply with a smile.
"Then that's where we need to go to find her." Chase said with a determined look as he faced Twilight. "What do you say, Twilight? You feel like you're up for this?"
Twilight looked at her husband for a moment before she sighed and puts on a determined smile.
"Yes, honey." Twilight answered as the others smiled towards her.
"Then let's get going." Moon Dancer said as the six walked away to head for Dusty's retirement home.
(Scene changes)
Soon the six made it to a town and approached a sign showing the Silver Stable Community picture as Chase, Nyx, Bagheera, and Spike looked at the town.
"Well, this looks like the place." Chase said to the group.
"Silver Stable Community: For the best golden years"." Twilight said as she read the sign. "You're right, honey. This has to be it!"
"I hope so." Spike said and brought out the map. "It's the last "Silver" spot on the map we haven't looked."
"We won't know until we figure out which apartment Dusty's in at the moment. Let's go to the counter and ask for directions." Moon Dancer said firmly.
"She's right. Come on, guys." Chase said as he led the way to the main office.
They soon entered inside and Spike struggled as he flew holding the heavy bag.
"Whoa!" Spike gasped amazed. "This place is-"
"Terrible, I know!" Twilight cutting him off. "There's not a bookshelf in sight! Poor Dusty..."
"It's gonna be fine, Twilight. I'm right with you as well as the others." Chase said to his wife as the others smiled in agreement and they went up to the receptionist.
"Excuse me!" Twilight said.
"Yes, how may I help you?" The receptionist asked.
"Do you have a resident named Dusty Pages?" Twilight asked and showed the photo to her.
"Oh, yes." She said while looking at the picture before she turned back to the six. "Her apartment is in the next complex, ground floor."
"Thank you!" Twilight said and they went to the direction pointed.
(Scene changes)
They were soon outside and looking for Dusty's room.
"I can't believe that my carelessness sent her here, when she could be happily surrounded by millions of wonderful-smelling books!" Twilight said sadly and with concern.
"Honey, relax. I don't know how many times you have to blame yourself for this." Chase said to his wife firmly. "But you need to pull yourself together."
"What if I don't learn to control it, sweetie?" Twilight asked with concern. "All of the wonderful-smelling books were all Dusty could be surrounded by."
"You realize that might be just be a you thing, right?" Spike asked.
They continued looking for her room and then Twilight backed up and saw her picture on a door.
"There she is!" Twilight gasped. "Here we go."
Twilight then sighed, and knocked on the door as they waited. They waited for a few moments as nothing happened and Twilight checked her watch.
"It looks like she's not coming out." Chase said in theory and then Twilight groaned angrily.
"Maybe she's out somewhere." Bagheera suggested with curiosity.
"That could be it, Bagheera." Nyx added in agreement. "Maybe that's where we should go."
"She's bound to be back soon." Spike said. "Maybe we should just wait here."
"No. We are fixing this now." Twilight protested. "This place isn't that big. We can find her."
And then she turns and heads out.
"'No. We are fixing this now'." Nyx sarcastically copied her mother as Moon Dancer turned to her and Chase.
"I don't understand how you put up with her since you guys had that rift." Moon Dancer said to Chase with a confused look.
"It wasn't that easy without me being married to her." Chase replied back as he, Nyx, Bagheera, Moon Dancer, and Spike followed Twilight.
(Scene changes)
The six soon got to a dock and saw a group of three elderly ponies doing some painting.
"Um, excuse us?" Chase said to the elder ponies, getting their attention to face the six
"Sorry to interrupt your plein air painting, but we're looking for Dusty Pages." Twilight explained. "Have you seen her?"
"Sure have!" Apple Rose replied and she turned back to her painting.
"Try again, Twilight." Moon Dancer said to Twilight and gestured for her to say something as the alicorn mare sighed.
"You might wanna listen to her, Mom. We don't have all day." Nyx said as her mother turned to her daughter before she brought her attention back to the elder ponies.
"And...?" Twilight asked, a little impatient as Chase shook his head and cleared his throat.
"What my love means to say is this. What is Dusty Pages' schedule suppose to be when she's not too busy?" Chase asked them.
"She had to leave early to get to her fengi de ti session." Apple Rose explained.
"Which is right before she leads the woodworking class with me." An old stallion said. "Then she's on to windsurfing."
"Ooh, and don't forget theatre rehearsal!" Apple Rose said, reminding the other elder ponies. "Dusty's leading the role. Again."
She finished the last part a bit upset at that.
"Then there's her band practice later." The elder stallion added.
"Thank you!" Twilight said as they turn and walked away.
"Wow. Dusty sounds like one busy pony." Spike said.
"Oh, she's just filling her days with distractions to cover the pain of losing the best job ever!" Twilight said. "But not for long!"
"Oh boy." Bagheera, Chase, and Moon Dancer said together as they rolled their eyes.
(Scene changes)
They soon went over to fengi de ti session, but have just missed her and then checked the woodworking class, only for them to just miss her as well.
The six even checked the windsurfing ponies as Twilight and Spike joined them, looking at her. But they hadn't seen, and as Twilight looked around, they suddenly lost balance and then fell into the water. Chase, Moon Dancer, Bagheera, and Nyx just watched from the docks while looking concerned for Twilight.
Later they checked the theater rehearsal group and they haven't seen her.
(Scene changes)
Later they entered a building and saw a group of elderly ponies playing a band.
"Okay, guys. This is the last spot we're gonna try to look for Dusty. The elder ponies did say she has band practice here." Chase said when they stopped to see any sign of Dusty Pages.
Then Twilight saw the mare playing the guitar was Dusty.
"Dusty Pages, finally!" Twilight beamed. "Come on, guys!"
"Wait." Spike said as he and the others quickly got in front of her. "She looks pretty happy up there."
They turned and she seems to be really enjoying herself.
"Yeah, she looks like she's enjoying herself." Moon Dancer said with a curious yet surprised look on her face like Chase, Nyx, and Bagheera had the same expression. "I've never seen her do this before."
"Is it just me or is she really starting to act like a teenager?" Chase asked while looking at Dusty curiously. Nyx, Spike, and Bagheera nodded in agreement as Chase turned to Twilight. "Honey, maybe we should wait for her to finish up and see if we can talk with her in a few minutes."
"Trust me, honey, it's all an act." Twilight protested, not buying it. "She'll be happier when I deliver the news that she can go back to working at the library!"
"If you say so, Twilight." Moon Dancer said with an unsure look on her face.
"I know so." Twilight said as she then went towards the stage.
"Yeah, I have my doubts." Bagheera bluntly said. "And this is gonna end up badly."
Chase, Nyx, Spike, and Moon Dancer nodded in agreement. The ponies continue playing when then suddenly Twilight used her magic took them away and they turn to her, slightly annoyed by the sudden interruption.
"Care to take five, everypony?" Twilight asked innocently with a smile as Chase slapped a hoof to his face.
"Ah! Twilight Sparkle and Chase Young?!" Dusty asked in surprise and joy. "My stars!" She then turns and nods to the other ponies as they leave. "It's so wonderful to see you two! What are you doing here?" Dusty then noticed Moon Dancer. "Why hello, Moon Dancer. It's lovely to see you too!"
"Good to see you as well, Dusty. If you don't mind, I wasn't surprised to see you loved to play rock n roll music." Moon Dancer said with a smile as Dusty chuckled.
"Oh, this was only the first part of the band. I'm just getting warmed up for the new level of music." Dusty Pages replied back with a smile as she turns her attention to Chase and Twilight. "It's wonderful to see you two again. I just read in the newspapers that you two have gotten married! I wish I could've attended your wedding, but I had other things to take care of."
That made Chase chuckle to himself as Twilight giggled modestly.
"So back to the subject." Dusty said while focusing on Twilight and Chase as the royal couple turned to her. "What are you both doing here? I wasn't expecting you to visit me."
"We've been looking all over Equestria for you!" Twilight said and Spike dragged the bag over to them. "I need to tell you something."
"Well, you and Chase brought my mail!" Dusty beamed looking at the scrolls and letters. "Oh, thank you!"
She hugged Twilight and Chase as she chuckled.
"No." Twilight said and got free her grip. "I mean, yes, we did, but that's not why we're here. I let you down, and I can't forgive myself until I set things right."
"I don't remember you doing anything wrong." Dusty said curiously as she frowned.
"What my wife is trying to say is you told her to take care of a special book she checked out from the Canterlot Library, and she never brought it back!" Chase said with a firm look, making Dusty surprised by this.
"It was you that had that book out?" Dusty gasped as she turned to Twilight in shock. "The one that broke my perfect record?"
Twilight sadly nodded and brought the book out.
"But now you can bring it back to Canterlot Library and get your job back!" Twilight said, requesting with a smile.
"No, thank you!" Dusty suddenly denied with a firm look. "I don't ever need to see that library again! Now, if you excuse me, I have somewhere to be."
She then grabs her mailbag and leaves as Chase looks visibly surprised by this as well as confused.
"What's her problem?" Chase asked the others curiously as Moon Dancer, Nyx, Bagheera, and Spike shrugged in reply.
Twilight was just feeling disheartened by what she heard from the former librarian.
(Scene changes)
Sometime later, they were at a table as Spike had a drink and snapping his fingers as a band was playing while Twilight had her face planted on the table.
"I don't get it, guys. Why was Dusty so mad about the book?" Chase said to the others with a confused look.
"It was probably for the best after Twilight didn't return it, Chase." Moon Dancer said as Twilight lifts her head to face the band.
"Do you mind?" Twilight asked turning to them with an angry look.
The band continues with a much softer tone, but it still didn't help Twilight as she still glared at them.
"I don't understand." Twilight said. "If Dusty Pages won't go back to Canterlot Library and explain everything, then she won't be able to get her job back. Even worse, her record will remain imperfect!"
"And yours will, too?" Spike asked.
"Honey, do you really want to make it up to Dusty Pages so that you and her can keep your records?" Chase asked Twilight as his wife turned to him.
"Well, yeah!" Twilight said before she turned to Moon Dancer, Spike, Nyx, and Bagheera. "But that doesn't matter any more!"
"Really?" Spike and Bagheera said together dryly.
"Twilight, if you had to choose between your book borrowing record and Chase, the love of your life, what would you have got left to lose?" Moon Dancer asked Twilight as the alicorn mare turned to her.
"Well, the record, maybe a little. But I would never trade my Chase away. He's the only thing that matters for me in my whole life with Nyx." Twilight said as she hugged Chase with all her might as the alicorn stallion hugged his wife back as Nyx joins in while hugging her parents, who returned the favor for their daughter. Then Twilight pulled away from him and remembered something. "Oh, no, bits! The late fines! How much do I owe now?!"
Spike brought out an abacus and he and Nyx sort out a possible amount.
"Uhhh... you don't wanna know." Spike said.
"Yeah, Mom. It might be best that you don't figure it out." Nyx said as she nodded in agreement.
"Is it really bad, guys?" Chase asked them as they nodded in reply and Twilight groaned, smacking herself.
"It would've been worth all the bits in Equestria if I had made things right with Dusty! I wish I knew why she won't go back!" Twilight said to her family and friends in misery.
"Why don't you ask her?" Spike questioned.
"Spike's right. If we go and talk to her, you both might be able to straighten it out a bit." Moon Dancer said in agreement to Twilight with a smile.
"She didn't seem to want to talk." Twilight said to Moon Dancer with a sad look.
"Honey, I don't want to take this the wrong way, but we surprised her big time and she wouldn't just want to talk without an explanation." Chase said to his wife with a determined look.
"Chase is right. You guys surprised her, and she probably had something else on her schedule." Spike said in agreement with Chase. "That thing is packed! Come on. What have you got to lose?"
"Now that I've messed up this much?" Twilight said. "Nothing. You're right, Spike and Chase. It's worth a try. Where do you think she went? Crochet? Bingo?"
"I don't know, but if she was playing in the band, then she might be doing something else outside that would seem too much for us to handle." Moon Dancer said with concern as the five turned to her curiously.
"Like… what?" Chase asked Moon Dancer with a curious look on his face.
(Scene changes)
Later they went through some kind of food fight as elder ponies wore military outfits to protect themselves from the fruit.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Chase, Nyx, and Bagheera said in shock.
"A squishy fruit-food tournament?" Twilight said in disbelief as a few pieces of food landed near the six.
"You know, guys. It looks like she maybe having too much fun for this kinda game." Bagheera said to his friends with a stunned look as they agreed with the panther cub.
"Yeah, either she's starting to act like a filly again or she's just plain crazy to join an event like this." Chase said while moving to the side from an incoming strawberry flying at him as it missed the alicorn stallion.
"Hey, everypony!" Spike called out waving a white flag. "We come in-" Suddenly, Chase, Nyx, Bagheera, Moon Dancer, and Twilight ducked as a tomato hits Spike. "Eh, pieces."
"Uh-oh." Nyx said with worry. "Looks like we've got some more incoming!"
"We'd better get to a safe distance while we're at it." Moon Dancer added with concern and they were quickly covered in food as Twilight quickly teleported them away.
The six appeared behind a rock as they hid while breathing heavily.
"I don't know about you guys, but it's like a warzone out there!" Chase said while watching the event going on as the six peaked their heads out from the rock.
"Stop!" Twilight yelled, but the event still continued. "We just want to talk to Dusty Pages for a moment! Please?"
"TIME OUT!" Dusty yelled out in a tree, halting the game, while wearing blue gear and a blue polka dot handkerchief as she drops down near the six, who looked stunned by this. "Next time, you should rent gear."
"Whoa, Dusty." Chase said with an amazed look. "Looks like you got a taste for the blue."
Dusty chuckled in response.
"Well, Chase, sweetheart. If there's any color I like, it's blue." Dusty said while looking at her gear before she turned back to the group. "Have you all decided to join in on the fun?"
"We're not actually here for the game." Spike said honestly as he and the others approached her.
"I was hoping you'd give me another chance to talk to you about the library book." Twilight said with a sad look as Dusty sighed in understanding.
"This really means a lot to you, doesn't it?" Dusty asked Twilight with a somber look.
"You wouldn't have guessed of what we've been through to find you, Dusty." Nyx said as she looked at Dusty. "My mother just has something to say to you."
"Mm-hmm." Twilight said as she nodded. "I know I ruined your life by not returning my book on time, and I will do anything I can to make it up to you. Even promise to never take a book out of a library again, if that's what it takes."
Then everypony, minus Chase and Moon Dancer, gasped in shock by that. Suddenly, Dusty started laughing, which caught Chase, Twilight, Moon Dancer, Spike, Nyx, and Bagheera off guard by this as they glanced at each other.
"That is not the reaction we expected." Spike said in surprise and confusion.
Twilight, dear, you've got it all backwards!" Dusty said with a joyful smile. "I'm not upset with you!"
"You're not?" Twilight said, not understanding where this was going.
"No! If I'm mad at anypony, it's me." Dusty said sadly.
"What are you talking about, Dusty?" Chase asked curiously as Dusty went over to a log and they joined next to her.
"All those years I spent hiding away in that library, trying to be perfect." Dusty explained. "When your book never came in, I felt something exhilarating!"
"What was it?" Twilight asked in confusion.
"Freedom." Dusty answered.
"Freedom?" Moon Dancer asked in slight surprise.
"From books?" Spike asked, still confused by what Dusty was talking about.
"From perfection!" Dusty answered. "I was too stubborn to know when to call it quits! It took your mistake to make me realize that I wasn't living the life I wanted!"
"Wait, you mean, all this time you just wanted to escape from the Canterlot Library because you weren't perfect to handle the job?" Chase asked curiously.
"Yes, Chase." Dusty replied back while facing the alicorn stallion. "It was also because you reminded me to never give up hope. You've been doing the same for your family over the years to become the leader of the Elite Ninja and fulfilling your grandfather Darius Hisomi's honor."
"Well, he does know when to make it right." Moon Dancer said as she smirked at Chase, who blushed a bit.
"So, wait. You mean you weren't fired?" Twilight said to Dusty in surprise. "You left the library because you wanted to?"
"Twilight, your late book was the best thing that ever happened to me." Dusty said. "Now I'm not afraid to try thing I might fail at. In fact, sometimes messing up teaches me more than getting it right!"
"You sure you don't want to return it and get that perfect record back?" Twilight asked holding the book out.
Then suddenly a fruit hits the cover of the book and Twilight lets out a strangled scream.
"Hey!" Bagheera yelled. "Watch where you're throwing the food!"
"I guess it's a little too late to return it now, Twilight." Moon Dancer said with a nervous smile as Twilight turns the book.
"Ah, good." Dusty said, relieved. "It was a yellow one. You can still see the words."
"But it'll have a stain!" Twilight said with a worried look.
"That doesn't change the truth inside it." Dusty said when she realized something while looking at Twilight. "Wait. Did you even read that thing?"
Chase, Moon Dancer, Nyx, and Bagheera turned to Twilight curiously.
"Honey, were you able to read the book before you and I left for Ponyville?" Chase asked Twilight curiously as his wife blushed awkwardly in deep red.
"Actually, uh, no, honey. I guess I didn't." Twilight replied back to her husband as she removes some of the smashed food off the cover.
"Perfection"." Twilight said, reading the title.
"And the next part?" Dusty said with a teasing smile.
"The Impossible Pursuit"." Twilight reads the other part.
Chase, Moon Dancer, Nyx, Spike, Bagheera, and Dusty laughed together over Twilight's embarrassment.
"Oh. That might've been useful to look at earlier." Twilight said with an embarrassed smile while rubbing her right foreleg with her left hoof as she blushed deep red.
"Sounds like you learned a lesson today, honey. You gotta let the perfection go." Chase said with a smile as he wrapped a foreleg around Twilight, making his wife giggle and she snuggled into her husband's neck.
Then Dusty remembered something.
"By the way, I heard that you two are having a baby." Dusty said with a smile as Twilight and Chase turned to her. "Tell me, Twilight. When do you suppose the young one will come?"
Twilight and Chase turned to each other with a grin before looking back at Dusty.
"The doctor said that the baby won't be coming out for eight months or so." Twilight replied back as Dusty nodded in reply.
(Scene changes)
Later after saying goodbye, they went back to Canterlot and met with First Folio.
"Uh-huh..." First Folio said as she looks through a list. "Your total fees come to..."
"However much it is, I'll cover it." Twilight said nervously. "Uh, do you have a monthly payment plan?"
"Twenty eight bits." First Folio said with a firm look.
Twilight, Chase, Moon Dancer, Nyx, Bagheera, and Spike gasped in shock.
"That's it?!" Spike exclaimed.
"Yah-huh." First Folio replied. "Most ponies don't know that it caps at a month. Probably 'cause we don't tell them."
"You mean... we've traveled across Equestria for twenty eight bits?" Chase said and then glared at Twilight. "Honey, when we get home, you need to start thinking about doing meditation."
Twilight sheepishly laughed as she brought out 28 bits and set them on the table.
"Thank you. Your account is back to normal." First Folio said. "Although we will be taking down your Best Book Borrower picture."
"Um, is that really necessary?" Twilight asked. "Heh. It just seems so permanent. Heh. I mean, I did return the book, after all."
Spike cleared his throat.
"Twilight?" Chase, Bagheera, and Moon Dancer sternly said.
"Mom." Nyx said firmly.
"Okay." Twilight said as she gave out and she sighed. "Letting the perfection go. You want me to reshelve this for you?"
"No, it's an old edition." First Folio said. "We've already replaced it with a new copy."
"In that case, can we keep it?" Spike asked. "It might be a good reminder to have around."
"You sure?" First Folio asked. "It's got a stain."
"That's what makes it perfect." Twilight said and held the book.
"And just like you, you're the perfect girl for me honey." Chase said with a smirk as he nuzzled Twilight lovingly, making his wife smile contently as she returned the favor.
Author's note: Hey guys,
Sorry for the long wait, but my job has gotten me all tired out. Here's the fifth chapter of this story and I'll be back to writing the others.
Hope you enjoy this one.
Peace out!