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// 77 - And the Verdict is...// Story: Ponyfinder: Roots of Stone// by David Silver//------------------------------//

The Head Librarian's head sunk as the last dregs of the spell escaped her. Paul looked ready to approach her, but Fast held up a hoof. In a harsh whisper, she warned him, "Leave her be. She's done when she says she is."

Paul crossed his arms and grunted softly with mounting impatience. Watching a wizard weave a spell for what felt like forever was not his idea of a good time.

Tree softly bobbed her head in tune to some song that only existed in her head, eyes focused far beyond the wizard and her labors. She seemed to be content waiting.

Fast, on the other hoof, had her eyes directly on the crown and the pony that held it, almost trembling with anticipation.

The priest/librarian looked up at them. "The crown knows what brows it must rest upon. The Champions must unify and between their hooves and talons, peace may yet be found. The time for an empress has passed." She set the crown down softly. "Do you know who the 'Champions' are?"

"I..." Before Fast could get further, Under Score stepped in, cutting her off.

"Fast, you know."

"I do?" Fast raised a brow.

Under smiled his wrinkled lips. "It irks me as much as you, but now is not the time to be coy. We've never shied from an adventure before, side-by-side."

Fast rose to her wobbling legs. "Are you serious?"

Under reached out a hoof towards her. "Surely taming this country can't be worse than some of the scraps we've been in."

Fast barked out a laugh at that, reaching out and touching hooves. "This isn't an adventure, you old fool. This is madness."

Under shrugged softly. "Madness is our trade. Perhaps we can learn something from it."

Tree tilted her head at the both of them. "Are you two the Champions then? Radical..."

Under shook his head. "There are others."

"What?" Fast recoiled. "Wait..." She clopped a hoof on the ground. "Don't tell me I'm the only one to not notice she was ensnared by The Author's hands!"

Paul lifted his shoulders. "Well, alright, so what's next? Round up all these ponies?"

"Not all are ponies." Under shook his head. "The Author created all the species of Everglow. It should hardly be a surprise that she would recruit from a wide variety of us." He returned his look to Fast Shadow. "Take heart. I'm fairly certain most are as clueless as once you were, and perhaps that is kinder, but our hoof has been forced."

She advanced on him. "Why do you already know?"

He lifted his shoulders. "This has been a trying time. Things are not as they should be. I saw you walk off, death in your eyes, only to return with hope rekindled and youth intact. Whatever prevented me from seeing before is not there, and may not return until we have done our task."

Tabitha stepped up beside Under. "So, what are we waiting for?" She stepped past him and snatched the crown, only to place it on Under Score's head without waiting. "Let's gather up these friends of yours."

Under shuddered softly, eyes going unfocused a moment before he grunted. "So eager to strip even the hope of shirking this weighty task?" He turned towards her. "You are going to be a most troublesome student."

Tabitha blinked, then clapped her hands together. "You'll teach me?!"

Under smiled a little. "Of course I will, as best I can. I'm no sorcerer, but I know where to look, and I understand magic well enough to pass some wisdom. Will you have this old stallion as a mentor?"

She dropped to her knees and hugged him tightly around the neck. "Of course I will! Thank you." She kissed either of his cheeks, then rose up to her own hooves. "When do we get going?"

Paul waved at Tabitha. "For once, we're in complete agreement. Enough waiting around. Let's gather up all these 'Champions' and be done with it already."

The librarian slid from her chair and began slowly hobbling her way on aged legs towards Under Score. "There is one thing left undone, before you begin your next step. Two who have more than played their parts, who have seen you reach this far. They have their own story to return to."

Tree perked curiously even as Maud just walked in.

"And there they are. The crown, if you would?" She held out a shaking hoof, for Under to tip his head forward, allowing the crown to fall onto it. She approached Tree with the crown. "The answers you need will come to you, but you must focus on them exclusively."

Tree took a mild step away. "I'm not totally sure..."

Maud cut her off. "I thought you wanted another chance to wear the crown?"

"I do, but focusing on, you know, one thing. That's beyond comprehension with it on." She glanced around the room nervously. "Will I still look like this too?"

The librarian looked Tree over. "What's wrong with you?"

Fast gestured over Tree, then Maud. "Ponies of her world look more like this, in terms of proportion."

The librarian looked between them fastidiously. "You should recover, returned to your natural environment. It may require some time, but if ponies are not meant to be the way you are, you will adjust." She lifted the crown. "Will you accept?"

Maud nudged Tree gently. "I want to see my family."

Tree let out a soft sigh before she nodded, reaching for the crown and placing it on her own head. The rush of insight came to her, terrible and overwhelming. She knew all too much. It was a rush, and almost giddy as it filled her, but trying to find one specific piece of information through it all was hard. She tried to focus her usually soft and relaxed mind, prying through the roar of information to find what she wanted.

Fluttershy appeared in her mind's eye, worried and sad. She was wondering where her animal-loving friend had vanished to. She wanted to help. She couldn't. Tree reached for her, and the noise fell away from all sides. There was nothing but Fluttershy, the sad yellow pegasus.

The crown fell from her head as if a gust carried it away, but her eyes were only for Fluttershy, and she barely registered that it happened. She reached and reached, only for Maud to suddenly shove under her and lift her up. Maud was running beneath her as the noise began to close in on them rapidly.

Their manes and tails whipped about furiously as Maud ran with all the speed her training had allowed her, trying to beat the collapse of whatever place they were in.

It did collapse, crashing down upon them and plunging them into darkness.

Tree fluttered her eyes open. A voice was calling her, and a hoof was on her cheek. Fluttershy was smiling down at her, tears running freely down her snout. "Tree Hugger! Please be alright! Oh, I'm so glad to see you!"

Tree slowly rolled up to her belly from being sprawled on her side. "Flutters?"

"Tree!" She hugged Tree fiercely around the neck. "Where have you been?!"

Maud walked quietly for the door. "Thanks for the help with the tree. Stop by the farm to get paid." She nudged the door open, only for her tail to be caught in teeth. She looked over her shoulder to see Tree had caught her tail before she could go. "Yes?"

Tree shook her head quickly. "You're not just going to go, just like that? Like nothing happened, sister?"

Maud pointed at Tree a silent moment, then her hoof fell. "Want to come with me? I can introduce you to the family."

Tree smiled with relief. "I would like that very much." She turned to Fluttershy, then back at Maud. "Can I introduce you to a friend first?"

Maud tilted her head. "Hello Fluttershy."

"Oh, um, hello Maud." Fluttershy waved softly.

Tree blinked. "Oh right, you two met before. I totally forgot." She clopped herself in the head, then paused, looking at her hoof. "Oh, all normal... It's like we were never there..."

"Possibly." Talons landed on her head as Bright Feathers claimed his rightful spot. "Possibly not."

"Bright!" Tree smiled with relief. "You clever bird. Oh! You're going to love Fluttershy. She knows how to treat birds right, clever or not."

They had made it. Their trip to Everglow left changes in them, but they were growths. They had left their marks on Everglow, and helped it reach the path that could find healing, in time. The Champions of Everglow would have to martial themselves for an adventure that couldn't be simply defeated by a sword or a spell.

Would they succeed? That would be another story. One thing could be certain, they wouldn't do it, success or not, alone.

Author be praised.