Spectrum looked through the many tomes inside the mansion’s grand library. He had taken Scalpel’s advice in giving his collection a look. He found it in his best judgment to stay away from the restricted area, after all every mage had his own private notes and such things were to be respected. After all how would he feel if someone looked through his notes on Dreamwalking. He had to admit he was impressed by the collection. The cyan unicorn had found a particular tome on the aspects of mana consumption. It even had a section dedicated to the workings of Earth pony and Pegasi magic. Most believed it inert but Spectrum knew this to be false. 

As Spectrum read the tome he found his mind going elsewhere, particularly toward how to deal with the ailcorns. Part of him, an instinct as it were, told him to leave well enough alone. An instinct he knew was primal in its own right but he felt compelled to ignore it. Every pony had this instinct he gathered. After all how would these Gods gain so many followers if the instinct to cower before them wasn’t hard wired in? But that was what separated the sentient from the beast wasn’t it the ability to ignore instinct. Love and hate alike did this, giving anythi9ng sentient the ability to ignore instincts such as self-preservation. 
	
Spectrum finished the tome and put it back where he found it and began perusing the sections again. He moved on auto pilot for a bit. Then suddenly a green burst of flame appeared before him. He jumped back startled, inky tendrils forming around him ready to defend. Spectrum felt something tap against his hoof. A scroll…he had been startled by a scroll. He breathed a sigh of relief and quickly composed himself only mildly embarrassed for his jumpiness. Wait a second…green flame? Spectrum quickly picked the scroll up and ripped the seal open. His eyes scanned the letter, once, twice, and a third time just to be sure. He looked up his eyes wide. The Archmagister was calling a meeting of the council. And he was being summoned. This wasn’t good by any account. It was an immediate recall. 

The unicorn cursed his luck at the timing and made for the door. 
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“There it is,” Grimwing said as he brought the ship about. All around the ship Seaponies were going about their business. It hadn’t taken much for him to track down what they ahd been looking for, especially since there ahd been several scouts in the waters to lead them to the main camp. Grimwing and the rst of the crew stopped what they were doing when Captain Softstep walked onto the ship. She regarded them with a curt nod and made straight for Grimwing. 

“Captain,” the pegasus gave a short nod.

“Grimwing,” she said,” I was told you and the rest of the fleet had moored in Crescent Isle>”

“Aye,” he replied,” But we thought it best ta make fer open sea again. Especially after we saw th’ seaponies make fer th’ mainland. Besides that I’ve a pony that wishes ta speak ta Captain Wave. Says it’s somewhat urgent.” Softstep raised an eyebrow but he continued,” I thought th’ same thing but apparently ‘e follows one of th’ other alicorns.”

“Very well,” the tan earth mare said, her tone even to an outsider but for the crew they could tell she was more than a little annoyed,” Where is this pony you speak of?”