**Cairo, Egypt –** Authorities are scrambling to assess the situation following a dramatic and unprecedented event that appears to have averted the destruction of the Library of Alexandria. Initial reports suggest that Peabody Peabody III, the time-traveling custodian of the Peabody Institute, intervened to prevent the catastrophic fire that historically marked the library’s demise in 48 BC.

The intervention occurred late yesterday afternoon, according to eyewitness accounts and recovered security footage (though the footage itself is exhibiting significant temporal distortions). Witnesses describe a sudden shimmer in the air followed by the arrival of Peabody, accompanied by his adopted son, Sherman. Sherman, a surprisingly resourceful dinosaur, reportedly engaged in a brief, albeit chaotic, skirmish with Roman soldiers attempting to access the library’s collection. Peabody, utilizing advanced temporal technology, reportedly stabilized the blaze and, crucially, removed key scrolls and artifacts – believed to be those most vulnerable to the flames – to a secure location within the Peabody Institute.

“It was… well, it was a right mess,” stated a visibly shaken Roman centurion, Marcus Valerius, who was present at the scene. “One moment we were securing the building, the next there’s this… this *thing* and a giant, talking dog. It was utterly bewildering.”

The immediate consequences within the library’s timeline are already becoming apparent. Historical records are displaying fluctuating inconsistencies. Scholars are reporting discrepancies in the accounts of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. Dr. Alistair Finch, a leading historian specializing in the Hellenistic period, expressed his concern. “The ripples are significant,” he stated during a hastily convened press conference. “We’re seeing shifts in political alliances, alterations to documented scientific discoveries… the fabric of history is undeniably being rewritten.”

Peabody, speaking through a translator (Sherman, surprisingly, proved remarkably adept at communicating in several ancient languages), offered a brief, enigmatic statement. “The Library contained knowledge too precious to lose,” he said. “Preservation is paramount. Some things… simply cannot be allowed to vanish.” Sherman, adding his own comment, simply grumbled, “I just wanted a good chew toy.”

The Peabody Institute is currently under heightened security as temporal authorities investigate the nature of Peabody’s actions and the potential long-term ramifications of this unprecedented alteration to the past. The situation remains fluid, and the world – quite literally – is watching.