THE TIES THAT BIND

by

Ponydora Prancypants

A Novel Set in the Magical Land of Equestria

Featuring the Cast and Premise of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and all related intellectual property, including copyrights and trademarks, are the property of Hasbro, Hasbro Studios, the Hub, and Studio B Productions.
Original characters and description in The Ties That Bind by Ponydora Prancypants are the intellectual property of the author.
Special thanks to Lauren Faust for creating My Little Pony Friendship is Magic.

PROLOGUE

Twenty-seven years earlier ...

The archaeologist stood watching as seven strong ponies cut into a weathered canyon wall. Above them, the blazing summer sun beat down, causing the steel hammer shoes the ponies wore to glint with each strike against the rock. The excavators timed the blows from their strong hind legs, kicking as hard as they could each time the forepony's count reached three.

The straw hat the archaeologist wore was beginning to go limp from the sweat it absorbed. She was not used to this unbearable heat, but not even the sweltering midday sun would stop her work, because she knew she was on the verge of something amazing. The archaeologist was a unicorn with a coat of royal blue, and her mane and tail were lilac with streaks of dark purple running throughout. She was a young pony, still finishing graduate school. If she made the discovery she was searching for here, she knew her doctoral thesis would practically write itself.

The canyon they were exploring was not far from the capital city of Canterlot, where the archaeologist lived and worked. Canterlot was built in a vale at the top of the mountain range where the canyon was located, and partially into the side of the tallest mountain in the range, Mount Royal. The desolate canyon, almost inaccessible and visited by no one other than scientists and would-be tomb raiders, was located about five hundred pony lengths below the lowest party of the city.

The location for the dig site was not chosen by accident. The archaeologist had been receiving reports of pottery shards and faint engravings all over this area, and she had a hunch there might be far more to discover. She had spent the past two years creating a map of the location where every important artifact of the ancient pony civilizations was discovered, in order to triangulate and anticipate where the next find might occur. Her work had led her to this steep, narrow canyon, and the numerous shallow caves it concealed. As the excavators worked, another unicorn with a coat of burnt umber trotted over to the archaeologist and stood by her side.

"Alright, Lodestone," the unicorn archaeologist said to her companion, "I sure hope you were right about this, or these poor ponies will have worked themselves sick for nothing." Lodestone was another student, and one of the few colleagues at school who was aware of her project.

"I promise you, I've never been wrong about this kind of thing before. You know my special magical talent is detecting metal objects, and I happen to know there's something behind that rock wall," Lodestone replied. The image of a u-shaped magnet on each of Lodestone's flanks, his cutie mark, attested to his skill. The archaeologist had learned to trust him over years of field work together. Lodestone didn't have any other magical skills to speak of, but his talent for finding metal was second to none.

"Let's hope we don't have much longer to wait, then," the archaeologist said. Lodestone nodded, and turned his attention back to the workers. They waited, and only a few minutes later the first hairline fissure appeared in the rock with an audible crack.

"We're close now! Just a few more good blows, me buckos!" the forepony called out as his stallions continued to hammer away. His words of encouragement turned out to be prophetic as after a half dozen more impacts the rock wall gave way with a tremendous crash, sending dust and gravel flying in every direction. Behind, the archaeologist could see only blackness.

There were caves all throughout this canyon, but so far most of them had been devoid of any sign of pony habitation. Those few in which the team had found something yielded nothing more than a few clay shards. The archaeologist suspected, however, that cave-ins had sealed off a larger system of caverns long ago. All they had to do was find a way in, and thanks to Lodestone's detection spell, the new opening before her could be exactly what she needed.

The excavators, all muscular earth pony stallions, graciously stepped to either side as the archaeologist walked over to the opening in the canyon wall and peered inside. Stale air filled her nostrils as it rushed out of the newly uncovered chamber. That meant that it had been completely sealed. If there were artifacts inside, she would be the first pony of the modern era to find and recover them.

"Come on, Lodestone, let's see if your magical sense was on the money again this time," the archaeologist said, beckoning with a hoof for her companion to follow her. Without waiting for Lodestone, the archaeologist cautiously put one exploratory hoof in front of the other and entered the pitch dark cave. It was dry and cool inside, bringing welcome relief from the burning heat. It was also immediately apparent that the cave was much larger than any they had found in the canyon thus far, as the opening that the excavators had made did not provide enough illumination to identify any walls or ceiling.

Lodestone entered the cavern, dragging a powerful lantern on a wheeled base. The lantern was the brightest magical light available from the outfitter in Canterlot, and the archaeologist hoped it would provide enough illumination for the whole team to work. That is, she hoped it would if they found something worth calling the whole team for. When Lodestone had pulled the lantern a respectable distance into the cave, the archaeologist touched it with her horn and cast a basic come-to-life spell. Immediately, warm light radiated out in all directions to reveal their surroundings. The cavern was enormous, extending a hundred pony lengths or more in every direction. The walls and floor were flat and curiously free of common cave features like stalagmites or other rock formations, and best of all, signs of pony habitation were immediately apparent.

"I see how your metal detection picked up on this place, Lodestone," the archaeologist stated. She pointed a hoof to a spot along the right wall of the cavern where three discarded suits of golden pony armor slumped on the ground, seemingly rust-free even after their long interment. The archaeologist trotted over and examined the armor in greater detail. The crafting was exquisite, with delicate filigrees and complex overlapping protective plates. Experimentally, she touched one of the plates and gave it a little push, and was surprised to see that it still moved easily. Even today, no pony blacksmith could craft such a durable, beautiful piece of armor. Who had these ponies been, that they had access to such wonders? She was surprised to see a sharp dent on the armor's chest plate, as if it had warded off a sharp impact. Today, the armored guards in the capital city were mainly ceremonial, and never expected to engage in combat. In fact, as far as the archaeologist knew, Equestria had never seen actual war. Could things have been that different in ancient times?

"Look!" Lodestone called out. Using his tail he brushed dust off of the cave wall, revealing intricate symbols carved into the rock. The archaeologist immediately recognized the writing as ancient unicorn. "Can you read it?" Lodestone asked.

"Yes," the archaeologist confirmed, tracing the uncovered symbols with a hoof. "It says, 'here we leave the last of the treasures of our race, and we go in search of peace.' Oh my. Lodestone, if there really are treasures of the ancient unicorns here, I think this could be the greatest discovery in the history of pony archaeology."

"It's amazing," Lodestone agreed. "And I'm picking up on more metallic objects all over the place. I have a feeling these caves go on and on."

"They could extend all the way under Canterlot!" the archaeologist exclaimed excitedly. "We've got to tell the Professor about this!" The archaeologist was not working completely independently on this project. After all, she was technically still waiting to receive her doctorate, and she needed an advisor. The Professor was more than an advisor, she thought, blushing involuntarily and hiding her face from Lodestone. Nopony else knew, of course, but she and the Professor had been a couple for almost a year now. Technically, such a relationship was forbidden by the school, but nopony else had ever shown the keen interest in her passion that the Professor did. It was almost as if he wanted to discover the secrets of the ancients even more than she did. She had to get back to Canterlot to tell him all about this place. He would want to know everything. The archaeologist turned to leave the cave. They had all the time in the world to explore its wonders.

"B, wait," Lodestone called out. "Take a look at this." She turned to see what he had found, and Lodestone pointed to another set of carvings he had uncovered, farther away from the cave entrance. These were much harder for her to make out, as they looked to have been carved much more shakily, as if the inscriber lacked the strength or control to correctly form the symbols. Next to the writing was a crude drawing of two ponies standing next to a strange object. It looked like a jagged needle with wavy lines emanating from it. Did the lines represent magic? Electricity? The archaeologist had never seen anything like it. "This looks very strange. What does the inscription say?" Lodestone asked.

The archaeologist read, eyes wide. "Behold the instrument of our doom. Behold the end of the unicorns. Remember our sins, and avoid our fate."

"What could it mean?" Lodestone whispered.

"I don't know, but we need to talk to the Professor immediately," the archaeologist replied.

PART ONE: CELEBRATION

I. Twilight's Anniversary

"Omigosh omigosh omigosh! It's here!" Pinkie Pie squealed. She threw open the window of her loft above Sugarcube Corner with a shove from both forelegs and gulped in the sweet morning air to fill her lungs for another shout. "Good morning Ponyville!"

Even though it was not quite yet morning, Pinkie Pie could see that the skies above Ponyville were cloudless and crystal clear, and she imagined a faint glimmer of dawn on the horizon to the east. On this particular holiday, the pegasus ponies had been up before the sun to banish any hint of dreariness, and they had done a bang-up job, in Pinkie Pie's opinion.

In the village below, still lit only by intermittently placed gas streetlamps, other ponies were already beginning to gather in the town square for a day of fun and games. Following the tradition of the day, Pinkie Pie suspected they had been up all night. For today was the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. More importantly, it was the day of the annual Summer Sun Celebration, the most joyously celebrated holiday all over Equestria. In fact, it was the first Summer Sun Celebration in two years, since last year the actual celebration part had technically never happened.

Instead, Pinkie Pie remembered with a shudder, the evil Nightmare Moon had returned from her thousand year banishment on the moon to promise eternal night over all the land, and that wicked mare of darkness would have succeeded if not for … "Ugh, gotta focus," Pinkie Pie mumbled to herself. She had a party to plan, and if any pony could plan the best pony parties, that pony party planner was Pinkie Pie. In fact, parties were her special talent, which was why her cutie mark was a trio of colorful balloons. Every pony in Equestia eventually gained a cutie mark on his or her flanks, which related in some way to that pony's special talent. Pinkie Pie loved making other ponies happy, and spreading cheer and laughter. She could just imagine all the smiles that she would bring today! But, as she looked out toward the eastern horizon, though, her imagination got in the way of her planning once again.

Pinkie Pie couldn't help but picture the scene of the celebration, even though the main event was happening in far away Hoofington this year. There would be throngs of ponies gathered around Princess Celestia while her royal guards jubilantly sounded their cornets. The Princess would gracefully step onto her dais as rays of morning began to paint color onto the world, and then - then Princess Celestia would rise up into the sky, extending her majestic wings as her magic drew forth the sun, pulling it up, up, up into the sky! The Princess would hover, suspended, eclipsing the sun itself in beauty and power for a few seconds, before gracefully alighting amidst all the cheering ponies.

Pinkie Pie's reverie was interrupted by a sudden flash in the distance, and then she saw the glowing disc of the sun begin to climb into view. Pinkie Pie allowed herself a quick sigh of relief as she realized the ceremony had gone off without a hitch this time. Now she could get ready to par-tay! "Omigosh omigosh omigosh omigosh OMIGOSH! Pull it together, Pinkie!" She had almost forgotten why she was so excited in the first place. It wasn't just that today marked the return of the Summer Sun Celebration to Equestria, it was also a very important anniversary!

Today was the day that all of her best friends had come together and learned that they shared a special connection - they each embodied the spirit of an aspect of friendship. It was only through the combination of these aspects, the Elements of Harmony, that Nightmare Moon's eternal night had been ended. One pony, more than any other, deserved credit for that victory - Twilight Sparkle. Technically, Twilight had arrived in Ponyville a year ago yesterday, but for Pinkie Pie, the true anniversary was today, the anniversary of the day all six friends had forged their bond of friendship.

Now, it was time to get moving. Pinkie Pie just had to pick up a few things: supplies, kazoo, her pet alligator, Gummy … Pinkie Pie quickly tossed the diminutive and toothless reptile along with everything else she needed in her side panniers, and in a flash she was out the door of Sugarcube Corner and on her way.

First - Applejack! Pinkie Pie raced through town, galloping along the thoroughfare and then out across the hills and fields to Applejack's farm, Sweet Apple Acres. Pinkie Pie suspected the farmer pony would already be out checking on her apple orchards, even though the day of the Summer Sun Celebration was an official holiday in Equestria. She might also be preparing her apple cart to set up in the town square. Applejack never missed an opportunity to make a few bits from hungry ponies, but she also never failed to be generous with samples. Pinkie Pie felt her stomach rumble as she imagined all the delicious apple pastries. Sure enough, as Pinkie Pie galloped through the farm gates, there was Applejack trotting down a row of trees and inspecting her growing crop.

"Well howdy Pinkie Pie," the strong young earth pony mare with the orange coat and blonde mane called out, tipping her stetson with one foreleg as she walked over to Pinkie Pie. "What brings you out this ear …"

Pinkie Pie was on a mission, and didn't pause to let Applejack finish before bursting into song: "Weeeeelllllll …" she tuned up her voice. "Ahem!"

It's the summer celebration and I hope you are excited

It's time for a special party and you know that you're invited!

As she sang in her reedy, sometimes squeaky and loud voice, Pinkie Pie pulled various streamers hanging from her panniers, setting off tiny fireworks, noisemakers, and party poppers. Then she began to dance in time with the music.

"Now see here, Pinkie," Applejack started. "What in tarnation is all this ruckus about?" Pinkie Pie just kept singing.

A year ago we set off on the first of our adventures

(And did I mention Gummy here just got fit for dentures?)

"Ow!" shouted Applejack, as she saw that Pinkie Pie's pet had chomped down on her flank.

"Don't worry, the teeth are rubber!" Pinkie Pie shouted between verses.

"Pinkie Pie!" Applejack yelled as she shook the tiny alligator free. The pink pony ignored her and kept on singing.

And who was the one pony that brought our group together?

Who showed us that we were all pegasi of a-feather?

It was none other than the mare that we will celebrate tonight

None other than our very own, our bestest friend Twilight!

Sooo …

Pinkie paused her manic song to catch her breath, and then began a kickline routine straight out a Manehattan musical, even pulling a cane and donning a porkpie hat from her pannier. Applejack just stared, mouth agape.

I hope that you will be there

To celebrate with me

It's one year since we met Twilight -

It's our Ponyversary!

'Hey!" finished Pinkie, punctuating her singing invitation with a backflip.

"Well, Pinkie Pie," Applejack began, keeping a wary eye on Gummy, who was looking up at her with his alternately-blinking saucer eyes and chattering his rubber teeth. "I reckon you're right, and Twilight surely does deserve a party. She's been a great friend over the last year. Count me in. I imagine the revelers downtown will be clearin' off after noon, and then we can hold this here get-together."

"Great! I'm hosting the party, so everypony can come on over to Sugarcube Corner and I'll have it all set up!" said Pinkie Pie.

"Sounds good," said Applejack. "I figure I can whip up some Apple family favorites - apple turnovers, apple cobbler, apple dumplings ..."

"Wheeee!" squealed Pinkie Pie, turning circles in the orchard. "We're going to throw the best party EVER!"

II. Rarely There

Pinkie Pie put Gummy back in the pannier and became a bright pink blur as she bounded back into Ponyville, her curly hot pink mane and tail flapping in the wind. Applejack was just the first stop on her quest for guests. She still had to invite the rest of her best friends. There was Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy and Spike, and of course the guest of honor herself! Best of all, Pinkie Pie had a song ready for everypony! She was so excited she could barely contain herself and, as if sensing her unbridled enthusiasm, Gummy tugged the ribbon on one of her party poppers with his mouth, causing streamers to burst into the air above Pinkie Pie with a pop. "Yippee!" she exclaimed.

As Pinkie Pie made her way though the streets of Ponyville, passing half-timbered houses and rows of tidy shops, she slowed her pace. Even at a more modest rate, she still bounced happily along, attracting friendly greetings and smiles from the groups of ponies gathering under the rising sun. Eventually, she found herself in front of Rarity's carousel-shaped boutique, its bright and clean facade awash with morning sunshine. Rarity liked everything to be just-so, and never let so much as a speck of dirt mar the exterior of her shop. Pinkie Pie often envied her unicorn friend's snow white coat and perfectly curled purple mane - nothing could control the frizzy mess atop her own head.

Rarity was not just the most beautiful pony Pinkie Pie knew, she was also the most generous. She would drop everything to help a friend in need. Pinkie Pie remembered the time Rarity had risked her entire career as a fashion designer to make dresses exactly as Pinkie and her friends had asked, even though Rarity's impeccable fashion sense detected how atrocious the dresses were. Even knowing she would be made a laughingstock, Rarity had given her friends exactly what they asked for and allowed them to parade about in the horrendous designs, with nary a complaint. Pinkie Pie knew firsthoof how awful it felt to be laughed at, and recognized that despite her ladylike and elegant mien, Rarity was truly made of tough stuff. For this particular occasion, though, Pinkie was mostly concerned with what sort of beautiful decor Rarity could create for Twilight Sparkle's party.

"Oh, Rarity's going to have so many good ideas for decorations, Gummy, I just can't wait!" Pinkie Pie raised a hoof and rapped sharply on the painted front door to her friend's shop, the back apartment of which also doubled as Rarity's home.

There was no reply. Pinkie Pie dashed from window to window around the perimeter of the carousel-shaped shop, but the drapes were tightly drawn inside each and she could see nothing inside. "Hmm! Rarity, oh Rarity!" Pinkie called out. "I've got something to tell you!" She called out into a window facing into Rarity's apartment, her sing-song voice raising the final words an octave or two. "Come on out, sleepyhead!" Pinkie Pie continued to race around the boutique, finally digging in her heels at the back door as a small scrap of something caught her eye.

Stuck between the back door and its jamb, Pinkie Pie saw a folded piece of paper protruding. She clip-clopped up onto the rear landing and pulled the paper free with her teeth. If only she were a unicorn like Rarity and Twilight she could simply use her magic to levitate and unfold the paper so she could read it, but earth ponies found their own ways to interact with the world. She simply trotted over to a nearby public bench and set down the paper, using her teeth to carefully unfold it. Unfolded, the paper was clearly a letter written in elegant ponyscript. Pinkie Pie immediately recognized Rarity's hoofwriting.

"Gee, Gummy, what do you think this is about?" Pinkie Pie posited to her reptile pet, and began to read:

Dearest Friends,

Warmest regards and sincere felicitations. It is my hope that everypony is having a simply splendid Summer Sun Celebration day, and that you all spend the day together, basking and reveling in friendship and family on this, my most favorite Equestrian holiday. I am terribly sorry that I will be indisposed and unable to be there with you to experience now this joyous time, but the tribulations of the fashion community are ceaseless. As it is I am presently gone away on a little sojourn to Richmane to pick up new pieces of fabric for a most important order. While the timing is unfortunate, you must understand that fashion never ever sleeps, and an order that is avante garde may really quite quickly out of style. But such is the life of Rarity the Unicorn! Everypony knows that this season organza is in, so I'll bring you each back something trendy, and I'll be back in Ponyville before you can count to ten.

P.S. Sweetie Belle has a book I borrowed from the library. I wasn't able to return it before I had to leave, and it is overdue. Can one of you of you be a dear and return it for me?

À Bientôt,

Rarity

"Aw, ponyfeathers," Pinkie Pie muttered, folding the letter back up and placing it in her pannier. "Well, even if Rarity can't make it, we can still have a great time. I guess I'll have to handle the decorations myself!" She was no slouch at decorations, but Rarity would have brought something special. Not for the first time, Pinkie Pie questioned her longstanding practice of extending invitations the same day as the event. It was almost never a problem. After all, what pony would decline an invitation to a Pinkie Pie party? Just about the only reason would be if the invitee was not available to be invited, and this was one of the those rare cases. "Consider invitations in advance," Pinkie Pie noted aloud. "Must ask Twilight Sparkle for tips on planning ahead."

Suddenly a prismatic blaze whooshed down from the sky next to Pinkie Pie, the flash of colors then resolving into the familiar shape of a cyan pony with a multicolor mane - Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was the manager of the Ponyville weather patrol, and the only full-time employee in the department. Whatever weather needed managing, whether it was a scheduled cloudburst or a holiday call for sunny skies, Rainbow Dash and team of volunteer pegasi were responsible. More importantly to Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash was her closest friend. Nopony else so enthusiastically shared her love of jokes, pranks, capers, antics, hijinks, shenanigans and general tomfoolery, not to mention all around fun.

"Rainbow!" Pinkie shouted with glee, embracing her friend.

"Hi Pinkie Pie," Rainbow Dash said in greeting as she disentangled herself from Pinkie Pie. "I got up in the middle of the night to clear out the clouds, and I was just getting ready to practice for the weather team show tonight when I saw you bouncing around Rarity's place. Whatcha got there?"

"It's a letter from Rarity!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "It says she's gone out of town," she explained with a pout. "And I was just stopping by to invite her to a party! Which reminds me ..." Pinkie's eyes instantly brightened and a smile spread across her face. "Weeeeellllllll …"

"Oh no! Just stop right there Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash warned. "No singing before I've had a least a couple more cups of coffee!"

"Aw, Dashie! I've got special lyrics just for you!"

"Not happening sister!" The cyan pegasus slowly beat her wings and rose off the ground, crossed her forelegs, and shot a stern look at her friend.

"B-but I ..."

"Uh uh."

"Fine. Hmmph." Pinkie Pie jutted out her lower lip and tried to look as put off as possible. "Well, you're cordially invited to my surprise Ponyversary Party for Twilight Sparkle tonight. It's been a whole year since she moved to Ponyville and we all became best of friends with her."

"That's a great idea! I can't think of a more deserving pony than Twilight Sparkle. I'm free as soon as the weather team show is over later today. Also, is ponyversary even a word?"

"It is now! Actually this was Gummy's idea, isn't that right?" The little alligator crawled up onto Pinkie Pie's head and began to clack his mouth open and closed.

"Gyaaaah! He's got teeth!" Rainbow quickly backed away with a noisy flutter of her wings.

"They're rubber! I just didn't want him to feel left out."

"You're so weird, Pinkie Pie," said Rainbow Dash, shaking her head with a smile.

Both mares then turned to see two more friends approaching. Applejack was hurriedly trotting over, and by her side Fluttershy floated with a look of worry on her face.

"Hi" Rainbow Dash volunteered. "Is something wrong, Fluttershy?"

"I bet she's sad because Applejack told her about my surprise party and she's afraid she missed out on my song. Don't worry Fluttershy, I'm happy to sing it right here!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, excited to see her friends despite their concerned expressions.

"Hush, Pinkie Pie. This is serious," said Applejack. Pinkie Pie straightened up and stood at attention.

"I was just headin' into town behind you to set up my apple sweets cart for the holiday, when I saw this here filly lookin' right petrified, and flittin' back and forth in front of the library." Applejack gestured to Fluttershy. "So I asked her who had gone and put a spoke in her wheel as it were, and well," she looked up at Fluttershy, "why don't you tell 'em what you told me, Sugarcube."

III. Party of None

"I … it's … oh girls, there's something terribly wrong," Fluttershy whispered, fear and anxiety written on her face. Pinkie Pie had to fight off a frown of her own that threatened to appear in sympathetic response to her friend's worry.

"Well, come on, what is it?" Rainbow Dash shouted.

"It's … it's … " Fluttershy tried.

"Well?" Rainbow Dash prodded.

"It's Twilight!" Fluttershy cried out, tears welling in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash asked, but Fluttershy was in no condition to respond, as she covered her face with a forelimb to muffle her sobs.

"She's gone." Applejack said. Pinkie Pie gasped.

"Gone?" repeated Rainbow Dash, looking incredulous. "What do you mean, gone?"

"Maybe she's just out for a stroll?" Pinkie Pie offered with a look of concern. With a tug she pulled Fluttershy back down to earth and embraced her tearful friend. "You know how Twilight likes to go for long walks. I mean, she even goes into the Everfree Forest sometimes."

"But it's not just that, there's somethin' very wrong going on. Come on, I'll show you." Applejack motioned and started off in the direction of Twilight Sparkle's place.

"Well I'm sure she's just out and about, reading a book in the meadow, practicing her magic, or who knows, I'm sure she's fine." Rainbow Dash said with skepticism. The others were already trotting off, and as they passed beneath the hovering pegasus pony Pinkie Pie grabbed Rainbow Dash's tail and pulled her along. They had to go see what could have given Fluttershy such a fright, and had even caused Applejack to look as if she had seen a ghost.

The four ponies hurried through town and over to the public library, which was built into a massive, largely hollowed-out but still living oak tree. The trunk of the tree was so thick and squat that it could contain the entire main room of the library, including cases full of books and tables for reading. The trunk branched off above that, allowing for the rooms that made up Twilight Sparkle's living quarters and an observation deck near the top. Windows had been added to create a warm and inviting glow inside during the day, and gas lanterns provided a cozy feeling at night. Ponyville's previous librarian had retired a few years ago, leaving the town with no caretaker for the books. When Princess Celestia had offered to let Twilight remain in Ponyville after the events with Nightmare Moon, Twilight had happily taken over the librarian job in addition to continuing her studies. She was always recommending this book or that to anypony who was interested.

Now, though, it seemed that something was amiss, and that troubled Pinkie Pie to no end. Applejack knocked a hoof against the thick wooden door.

"You again!" a young male voice shouted from within.

"You open up that door right now, Spike," Applejack demanded.

"Fine." On cue, the door opened and the four ponies found themselves confronted by the glaring visage of a short and slightly pudgy baby dragon with purple scales and green spines. "But for the last time, Applejack, I have no idea what you're talking about! Now are you going to keep quizzing me about somepony I've never met, or are you going to let me get some sleep?"

"What's he talking about, Applejack?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking for answers in her friend's grim expression.

"Spike," Applejack began. "Let me try this one more time. Where's Twilight?"

"I dunno, it usually shows up a couple hours after dinner!" the young dragon replied testily.

"Twilight Sparkle! I know you know who I'm talking about!" Applejack shouted.

"For the last time, I've never met anypony named Twilight Sparkle. This is my house, and I was sent here by Princess Celestia to take care of the library. And until just now, I thought I knew the four of you! But now here you are, acting crazy, and asking me questions about some mystery pony as if I should know all about her! So far, I have to say this is the worst Summer Sun Celebration ever! Now, good day ladies!" Spike slammed the door shut.

Pinkie Pie was shocked. Spike was no mere acquaintance of Twilight Sparkle. She knew from hearing Twilight tell the story that Twilight had been been Spike's friend and companion literally since the day the little dragon had hatched from an egg. In fact, Twilight herself had actually hatched the egg with her magic, and had raised Spike ever since. For him to forget about Twilight Sparkle would be like a foal not recognizing her own mother. She wondered what could possibly have happened to the poor dragon. "What's that about?" she asked her friends.

"I dunno, but I bet we can make him tell us where Twilight is. I don't buy that act for a second," said Rainbow Dash. "He's up to something."

"I don't know, Rainbow," Applejack rejoined. "I think Spike might be tellin' the honest truth, at least from his perspective. When Fluttershy and I took a look-see inside before, we saw that all of Twilight's stuff was missing."

"All of the pictures of us, her clothes, her favorite quill - all gone," Fluttershy added.

"I'm afraid somepony got in there and put a spell on Spike," Applejack declared.

"And ponynapped Twilight!" Fluttershy whimpered.

"But who would want to do that?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Besides, nopony could just get the drop on Twilight! She's just about the toughest pony I know! After me, of course."

Pinkie Pie reflected. She knew that memory spells existed. It was only one short month ago that Discord, the eternal spirit of disharmony and chaos, had returned to plague Equestria again. Discord had used his chaotic powers to cause Pinkie Pie and her friends to block out their memories of friendship and focus only on negative emotions, causing them to all act oppositely to their normal natures. Pinkie Pie had become surly and paranoid, afraid that everypony was laughing at her and unable to find joy in anything. Fluttershy had turned from her normal kind and gentle self into a cruel sadist. Applejack, the most honest and dependable of ponies, had become an untrustworthy compulsive liar. Generous Rarity had become miserly. Rainbow Dash, normally the most loyal of friends, had become flightly and unsure of her convictions. Finally even Twilight Sparkle had, for a short while, given up on the friendships she held most dear.

Then, Pinkie Pie remembered, Princess Celestia herself had reminded Twilight of the lessons in friendship she had learned, restoring the unicorn's faith in her friends and empowering her to use her magic to restore Pinkie's memories of friendship, along with those of the others. That memory spell had been used to help ponies to remember, and had overcome Discord's manipulation, allowing the friends to imprison him once again and restore harmony to Equestria. Pinkie Pie could imagine that such a spell could be used the other way - to make someone forget.

"So, who would put a spell on Spike and run off with Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked. "It would have to somepony with powerful magic, which means it had to be a unicorn."

"Okay, I'm followin'," Applejack agreed. "There's plenty of unicorns around Ponyville, not to mention Equestria. That doesn't narrow it down much."

"And," Pinkie Pie continued, "it would have to be a unicorn who knows how to cast a memory spell."

"Well, that might help a bit," Applejack conceded. "Aren't unicorns limited to spells related to their special talent?"

"Hmm, I don't actually know how unicorns learn their magic," Pinkie Pie replied. "But I do know one pony who knows a memory spell."

"You mean Twilight!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Wait, are you saying she ponynapped herself? That doesn't make any sense."

"Pinkie Pie, you might be onto somethin'," Applejack said. "Girls, what if nopony ponynapped Twilight? What if Twilight ran off on her own?"

"But why would she put a spell on poor Spike?" Fluttershy asked. "You don't think it has anything to do with what happened a year ago? Or worse, Discord? "

"Well, Sugarcube, it can't be Nightmare Moon, because you can see the sun's come up just like it always does. It's a bright, sunny day, and my roosters were a-crowin' just like they always do. And I haven't seen a single sign of chaos, so I don't think you need to worry about ol' Discord," Applejack said reassuringly.

"I know … I'm just scared," Fluttershy replied, having pulled herself together.

"What else is new?" asked Rainbow Dash, rolling her eyes. "But seriously, where would Twilight run off to on her own, why not tell us, and why mess with Spike?"

"Hey," said Pinkie Pie, suddenly struck with inspiration. "I've got an idea about how we can try to answer some of these questions. Spike still recognizes us, so why don't we ask him a few questions, and get him to send a letter to Princess Celestia. If all else fails, I know she can sort this mess out."

"Pinkie Pie, you're a genius!" Rainbow Dash replied. "But how are we going to get Spike to cooperate? He thinks we've all gone crazy."

Pinkie Pie stole a glance at Gummy, who was now riding on her back. "Oh, Gummy and I have ways of making Spike cooperate." She then furrowed her brows and frowned. "I guess this means the Ponyversary party is on hold."

"I still don't think that's a word," Rainbow Dash stated.

IV. Returned to Sender

The door was unlocked, and the four ponies quickly filed into the library. Inside, the main floor of the library was as tidy as usual, with the books neatly organized by content and title, the floor swept, and the desks and tables free of clutter. Whatever else he may have forgotten, Spike had clearly not neglected his chores. The young dragon himself protested half-heartedly as the pony quartet barged in, but apparently realized there wasn't much he could do to stop them. Rainbow Dash picked Spike up and plunked him down in a chair while Applejack pulled the shades, leaving the room in darkness. Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie raced upstairs and then back again, carrying one of Twilight's reading lamps. She set it up so the light shined directly on Spike. Behind the chair where Spike sat, Gummy pulled the dragon's tail tight, keeping him locked in his seat.

"Are you sure about this?" Fluttershy asked.

"Worked like a charm last time," Pinkie Pie replied.

"Are we really doing this?" Spike asked. "It worked last time because you offered me a plate of gems to say what you wanted, even though it wasn't true!"

"Don't try your fancy dragon psychology on me, mister!" Pinkie Pie warned, tilting the light to illuminate her own face.

"Alright, fine, go ahead," Spike said resignedly. "But first bring out the gems."

"Sorry Spike, this time I don't have any gems for your to eat. This time I just want … the truth!" Pinkie Pie's eyes grew wide as she stared down at the little dragon.

"You can't handle the truth!" the baby dragon shouted back. "Um, I mean, I told you … I told all of you, I don't know any Evening Glitter, or Torchlight Splendor, or whatever her name is. I don't know what you're talking about!"

"A likely story! When was the last time you saw Twilight Sparkle?" Pinkie Pie peered down at the dragon.

"I … never … MET HER!" Spike yelled.

Pinkie Pie decided it was time to change her tactics. "Okay, answer this one. How does unicorn magic work?" Pinkie Pie demanded.

"That I can answer," Spike said. "Most unicorns are good at a few spells related to their talent. Rarity is good at spells related to finding and creating beauty, so she can cast illusions, find gems and other hidden things, and transform objects into more beautiful versions of themselves. I knew a pony back in Canterlot whose gift was romance, and she could make any pony fall in love just with the sound of her voice. Of course, that was kind of a curse, since she could never tell if anypony really liked her, or if it was just unconscious magic.

Then, some spells can be learned. Pretty much every unicorn has at least a little skill with telekinesis. And there's a whole school in Canterlot where they teach unicorns new spells. With enough practice, unicorns can interpret their special talent creatively and learn new magic."

"Are you familiar with memory spells?" Pinkie Pie asked more gently.

"Sure," Spike replied, calming down.

"How many unicorns do you know who can cast a memory spell?"

"Um … I can't think of any," Spike said. "That's a difficult spell, and would probably have to be related to that unicorn's special talent." Spike's eyes narrowed as he looked up at Pinkie Pie. "You're not suggesting that somepony has cast a memory spell on me, are you?"

"I'm asking the questions here, mister," Pinkie Pie replied. "When was the last time you had any visitors?"

"I dunno, Rarity stopped by a few days ago. But nothing happened since then, except you all went crazy!"

"And can Rarity cast a memory spell?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Not a chance," Spike replied.

"What if I told you that I happen to know that Twilight Sparkle can cast that spell, that she lives right here in this library with you, and that I think she's enchanted you into forgetting about her?" asked Pinkie Pie.

"That's preposterous. I think it's more likely that somepony cast a spell on you four. Dragons are highly resistant to magic, you know. It'd take one of the most powerful magicians in Equestria to put a spell on me," Spike declared.

Pinkie Pie shot a meaningful look at her three pony friends. They all knew just how powerful Twilight Sparkle was, and if any unicorn could cast dragon-affecting spells, it would be her. Pinkie just had to pin Spike down, and she could force him to recognize what must have happened.

"Tell me then Spike, tell me what are …" Pinkie Pie paused dramatically, "the Elements of Harmony?"

"The … Elements?" Spike repeated. "That's easy! It's you guys! You defeated Nightmare Moon and Discord, with those little necklace things!"

"And who is what, or what is who, or … you know … what pony goes with what Element?" Pinkie Pie continued.

"Are you kidding?" asked Spike.

"Talk!" shouted Pinkie Pie. Gummy gave a yank on the dragon's tail.

"Okay okay … well, from what you all told me, Rarity represents the spirit of the Element of Generosity. Fluttershy - she's kindness. You're laughter, Pinkie Pie. Although I'm not laughing now! Rainbow Dash is loyalty, and Applejack is honesty."

"And what about the other element?" Pinkie Pie pressed.

"The other … oh right, magic!" declared Spike. "That's … that's …" he pondered. "I don't know!" The dragon looked perturbed. His eyes grew wide, and at the same time the lizard-pupils narrowed to slits. "I can't remember!"

"Dag nabbit I knew there was some kinda crazy spell ahoof, and this jest seals the deal!" Applejack pronounced from within the darkness of the library.

"Why can't I remember?" Spike asked, concern in his voice.

"Alright, I'm hitting the lights." Rainbow Dash stated. Spike and the ponies blinked as the lights came up, and Spike gave Gummy a nasty look as he was allowed up from the chair.

"Okay, everypony," Pinkie Pie began. "It looks like Twilight Sparkle put a spell on Spike to make him forget all about her, and then disappeared. What now?"

"I think we need to send a letter to Princess Celestia," Rainbow Dash declared.

"I guess you're right," Spike said. "Do I really know this missing pony?"

"Twilight Sparkle is your closest friend, Spike," Fluttershy said. "She practically raised you from an egg. I'm so sorry this happened."

"Well, then, I'm sending a letter to the Princess!" Spike declared, puffing out his chest. "Let's find Twilight Sparkle!" He quickly grabbed paper, quill, and ink, and began to write.

Dear Princess Celestia,

This is Spike. I know you're probably super busy with the Summer Sun Celebration today, but something very weird has happened. My friends here in Ponyville have come looking for Twilight Sparkle, but she's missing! Worse that that, everypony is telling me that I know this Twilight Sparkle, but I can't remember anypony by that name! Can you please help us find out what's happened?

Sincerely,

Spike

Spike opened a window, rolled the parchment into a scroll, held it up in front of his face, and breathed magical fire. The scroll burned to glowing ash, which blew out the window before disappearing in a flash. At first, this procedure had mystified Pinkie Pie. Know she knew that Princess Celestia had used powerful magic, far beyond that of any normal pony, to create an enchantment that allowed Spike to send and receive scrolls. When he received a scroll, he would expel it in a burst of magical flame, and he could use the same fire to send scrolls directly to the Princess. It came in handy for Twilight Sparkle's near-daily correspondence with the Princess.

"Now how long do we wait?" asked Rainbow Dash impatiently. "We could be out searching right now."

"I dunno," Spike replied. "Princess Celestia usually responds in less than a minute, but today she's probably busy with the Celebration."

Thirty minutes later, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were practically bouncing off the walls, and Pinkie literally was. Fluttershy huddled in a corner of the library, and Spike paced nervously. There had been no response from the Princess.

"This is gettin' worse and worse," Applejack declared. "Why is she so slow? Now we have to worry about the Princess too?"

"A year to the day after …" Fluttershy murmured.

"After Nightmare Moon," finished Rainbow Dash.

"Shh!" Pinkie Pie hushed the other ponies.

"What, I can say 'Nightmare Moon,' can't I?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"No, shh!" Pinkie Pie put a forelimb in front of Rainbow Dash's muzzle to keep her quiet. "Somepony's coming!"

V. Overdue

Pinkie Pie was proved right by a light rap on the library door. Spike walked over to open it, and revealed a young white unicorn filly with pink and purple mane and tail. Pinkie Pie immediately recognized the newcomer as Sweetie Belle, Rarity's younger sister who was still in grade school. Sweetie Belle was so young that she hadn't yet discovered her special talent, and so didn't have her cutie mark. Pinkie Pie knew this was a point of particular sensitivity for the little filly and her closest friends, who spent most of their free time testing themselves at every conceivable activity and called themselves the "Cutie Mark Crusaders." Pinkie Pie also knew that it was only a matter of time before they all discovered where their gifts lay, and wasn't worried one bit about the girls.

"Hi Spike!" said Sweetie Belle. The filly looked like she had trotted over in great haste, as her coat was covered in a fine layer of dust kicked up from the road.

"Oh, hi Sweetie Belle. We've got kind of an emergency here, so the library's closed. Sorry," Spike said.

"But I've got an emergency too!" said Sweetie Belle, peering in to see all the other ponies assembled. "I walked over to my sister's place to give her back this overdue library book, but she was gone! There wasn't a note or anything, and Rarity always leaves a note when she is away from home, even if she's just out shopping. I was hoping you had seen her. What's your emergency, anyway?"

"We're trying to figure out where Twilight Sparkle has got off to," said Applejack. "And to confound things further, Spike here can't even remember who Twilight is. Somepony put a spell on him!"

"That's terrible!" Sweetie Belle replied.

"Oh, sorry!" Pinkie Pie piped up as she bounced over to the little unicorn filly. "Rarity did leave a note, and I took it with me! I just thought she would have already told you where she was going. The note said she's gone to Richmane." Pinkie Pie fetched the note from her pannier and Sweetie Belle grabbed it in her teeth and unfolded on the table to read it. As she was setting down the letter, she also put down the book she had carried with her.

"Crosswords, Ciphers, and Cryptograms for the Persistent Puzzler," Spike read aloud. "Huh, I never took Rarity for the puzzle type."

"Oh, yes," Fluttershy said. "She does the crossword puzzle every day before she opens her shop." She trotted across the room to read the letter from her friend.

"She does have a cat named Opalescence," said Pinkie Pie. "I don't even know what that means, but it sounds like a smelly gem!"

"Well, I borrowed the book so Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and I could use it to come up with a secret code for the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

"Oh my," Fluttershy whispered, reading Rarity's letter. "This is all wrong."

"What's wrong?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"This isn't Rarity!" Fluttershy exclaimed, softly but with a tinge of panic.

Pinkie Pie was confused. She hadn't noticed anything strange about the letter at all. The writing looked like Rarity's, and certainly the stiff formality sounded like Rarity.

"This is Rarity's hoofwriting, but she couldn't have written this!" Fluttershy continued.

"Looks like a normal letter to me!" Pinkie Pie said, peering at the letter from all angles.

"No, no, Rarity would never have written that organza is in fashion. I've been listening to her say for weeks how out of style it is. This just isn't right."

Sweetie Belle gasped. "You're right! My big sister would never write down such a, what does she say … foal pas. Oh no! Something's happened to my sister!"

"Oh great!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, floating up into the middle of the room with a few flaps of her pegasus wings. "Now we have to worry about Rarity too! This is getting worse and worse and worse!"

"But who would write a letter that looks exactly like it's from Rarity, leave it for one of you ponies to find, but put in a super-specific detail that you would know is wrong?" Spike asked the friends. "Maybe Rarity meant to leave you a hidden message.

"That doesn't make sense," Rainbow Dash said. "Why would Rarity need to leave a hidden message when she could just tell us plain and simple?"

"She'd need to leave a hidden message if somepony were watching her!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Somepony who didn't want her to leave the message."

"You mean," Fluttershy began with a look of sudden recognition, "somepony who wanted to get away without anyone noticing, who would even cast a memory spell to make sure she wasn't found out?"

"That's exactly what I mean," Pinkie Pie replied. "I bet Twilight Sparkle has left with Rarity, and she didn't want anypony to know where they've gone."

"So maybe Rarity hid a message about where they've gone in her letter!" Spike suggested. "The letter says Rarity is in Richmane, so they must be there."

"No way," Pinkie Pie said. "If Twilight Sparkle didn't want Rarity to tell anyone where she was going, she'd have to hide it in the letter. Richmane is written out plain as day, so that can't be where they went."

"Hey" Applejack exclaimed, jumping up on the table in the center of the library floor. "Jest wait one applebuckin' minute. Doesn't the letter say to get Sweetie Belle's book?"

"Yeah …" Rainbow Dash answered.

"Her code book?" Applejack continued.

"You think the hidden message in the letter could be hidden with a secret code!" Spike declared.

"Any of y'all got a better idea?" asked Applejack. None of them did. "Alrighty then, we jest gotta figure this out. If only Twilight was here, she'd be able to

unpuzzle this puzzle in a hoofbeat!"

"Well, why don't we start by all reading the letter," Spike volunteered.

Sweetie Belle spoke up. "When we Cutie Mark Crusaders were reading about codes, we read that the best code keys are often hidden in plain sight! Maybe the letter itself can tell us how to decode it!"

"Great idea Sweetie! We'll figure it out while were waitin' for Princess Celestia's response!" Applejack declared.

PART TWO: INCANTATION

VI. Fashionably Late

Two days earlier …

Two days to go, Rarity thought, and thirty-one more sun dresses to finish. The unicorn punctuated her internal lament with an audible sigh. She'd have to work all night. Still, this was her year. She finally had the high-end customers, the name recognition, the presence in Canterlot! A year ago, she had been struggling to break through beyond the tiny niche market she had carved out for high-end gowns and dresses. Then, thanks to promotion by Canterlot's own fashion maven Hoity Toity, and a praise-filled spread in Clotheshorse Magazine, she began to receive orders for her couture from all over Equestria.

The only downside to sudden success, Rarity noted, was the greatly heightened expectations for deliverables. Her product was expected on time, ready to display, and ready for sell. This was a bit of a stretch for one lone seamstress. Maybe, just maybe, it was finally time to hire some help. That was another thing Rarity had learned over the past year - sometimes you need somepony else to lean on, whether that pony was a friend or a trusted employee.

Rarity had found some great friends that she knew she would always be able to count on. She had become even closer to her good friend Fluttershy, and somehow she had found she actually enjoyed spending time with the brash Rainbow Dash and the down-to-earth Applejack, despite the great differences between Rarity's cultivated personality and their straightforwardness. The wild and crazy Pinkie Pie was so much fun to be around, and of course Twilight Sparkle had brought them all together. For a pony that always had her head buried in the pages of some old tome, Twilight always found time for her friends.

Time was a luxury Rarity had not nearly enough of. If she wasn't able to fulfill the orders from the shops in Canterlot and Manehattan, she would breach her contact and she stood to lose everything she had invested in her summer line. Whatever it took, Rarity knew she would finish all the dresses, and that each would be perfect. She just had to work that much harder. She focused on the fabric and dressform in front of her, and began putting the final touches on one more dress. A sea green ribbon threaded its way around a sky blue dress with daffodil trim, as Rarity's magic did its work. She might never command the repertoire of spells that Twilight Sparkle could bring to bear, but the abilities she did have - telekinesis, mass illusion, and precious stone and metal detection, she had honed to perfection. For there was only one standard as far as Rarity was concerned - flawlessness.

Rarity eventually closed the store to customers and continued to work late into the evening, hemming, stitching, sewing, draping, and accessorizing. By midnight, only a few more dresses remained to finish. Maybe she could get through another season by herself, Rarity thought proudly. That's how it had always been growing up, after all, Rarity against the world. Oh, her parents were supportive, and still lived close by in Ponyville with her little sister, but Rarity had always been different. It was up to her to show her parents that a unicorn had to be elegant, well-mannered, and genteel, even living in a world where other ponies had no choice but to shove their muzzles into their food to eat. Why were unicorns given magic if not to be cultured and sophisticated? Where her parents and sister were content to live like everypony else, Rarity cultivated a perfect accent, a sophisticated style, and a cultured mien that she felt was her birthright as a unicorn.

Rarity had nothing against earth ponies or pegasus ponies - each type of pony had its own strengths, and it took all three to make life in Equestria possible. Pegasi were guardians of the weather and seasons, and had their own magic that enabled them to fly like the wind on their undersized wings, and walk on clouds as if they were solid earth. Earth ponies were grounded to the rocks and soil, and had physical strength that enabled them to work the land and provide the bounty of goods and produce available to all Equestrians. But unicorns, by virtue of being able to finely manipulate the world around them, owed it to the world that gifted them with magic to be beautiful and cultured, or else they would squander their magical birthright. And while Rarity wanted beauty for herself, most of all she wanted to bring it to her friends, family, community, and finally to all of Equestria. And these sun dresses were the next step.

Rarity paused her work to take stock. She had finished enough for tonight and could get the last of the order together in the morning. Opalescence, her cat, was fed and purring contentedly in her sleep on her plush cushion. Her supplies were organized and her shop floor was clean and put-together for tomorrow. Now it was finally time to hit the hay - or in Rarity's case, imported silk. Tomorrow would be another long and busy day.

To Rarity's surprise, as she was preparing to turn off the lights the front door burst open. Had she forgotten to lock up after all? She stifled a gasp and adopted a defensive posture. Rarity was not about to let some two-bit crook break into her boutique. Just as quickly as the adrenaline had kicked in, though, Rarity's nerves calmed as she recognized the pony silhouetted in the door frame as none other than Twilight Sparkle.

"Twilight, what an unexpected surprise!" exclaimed Rarity. "What a pleasure!" This was something of an exaggeration, but Rarity never failed to be gracious, even in the middle of the night. "What ever brings you to my shop at this late hour? I was just about to catch up on my beauty rest, but I'd be happy to prepare a cup of tea and some cookies for you."

Twilight Sparkle walked into the light, and Rarity could see that the unicorn was out of breath. She must have run all the way here from her library home on the other side of downtown Ponyville. Twilight wore a concerned expression as she collected herself and caught her breath.

"Twilight, darling, what's wrong?" Rarity asked.

"Rarity, I think something bad is about to happen, something like last year," said Twilight.

"What do you mean? Lots of things happened last year," Rarity replied, surprised.

"I think something is going to happen at the Summer Sun Celebration!" Twilight exclaimed.

Rarity was now both surprised and confused. "You can't mean Nightmare Moon?" Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and their friends had joined together to use the power of the ancient magical artifacts, the Elements of Harmony, to defeat Nightmare Moon. To their surprise, Nightmare Moon's defeat revealed Princess Luna, who had been trapped beneath the Nightmare personality. Princess Luna had now been restored, after a thousand years, to her rightful place beside her older sister Princess Celestia. She moved the moon and made the night sky beautiful.

"That's just it, Rarity, I don't know what's going to happen. But I'm sure something bad is … and I'm going to need your help to find out what."

"But how do you know, Twilight? And why are you in such a rush? The Summer Sun Celebration is the day after tomorrow, so we still have time to figure out whatever it is that's got you so worried."

"Okay, okay, I'll explain everything," said Twilight Sparkle. "But I assure you that the situation is very serious, and I really absolutely do need your help."

"My help? But Twilight dear, every time before we've all had to work together. What about the others?" Rarity asked, surprised to be singled out.

"Because this time it's a unicorn matter, and you happen to be a unicorn," Twilight replied, her tone grim. "And we're going to have to leave tonight."

VII. Old School

"Me, leave tonight?" Rarity asked. "Oh no, Twilight, you must be joking! Ha, ha." She laughed nervously. "You know I have to get my dresses off in time for the Summer Sun Celebration!" Surely, Twilight Sparkle would understand how important her career was to Rarity.

"I'm sorry, Rarity. I know this is going to be a sacrifice, but the fate of Equestria itself may be at stake, and I'm afraid you're the one of our friends who can help me with this," said Twilight.

"Really, Twilight, little old me? I'm just a simple seamstress. You have more magic in one hoof than I'll ever be able to do. How can I help you? And why can't anypony else go with you? Surely Rainbow Dash would be better suited to some kind of adventure."

"This is not something Rainbow Dash can help me with. Like I said, this is a unicorn matter, and specifically spells only you have mastered. I thought about going to Canterlot myself, but I realized that if the last year has taught me anything, it's that I need a friend sometimes. This time I need you."

"And what, pray tell, do you mean by a 'unicorn matter?'" Rarity asked.

"Well," Twilight paused. "You'd better sit down. This could take a minute."

Rarity trotted over to her plush bed and took a seat on the edge. "Go on."

"You know before I came to Ponyville I was in school." Twilight stated. "I mean, I'm still studying, but I was actually at school. I was a student at PEGASUS."

"PEGASUS?" Rarity repeated. "The Princesses' Exceptionally Gifted And Special Unicorn School in Canterlot? Well, Twilight, I knew you were special, but my goodness. Only the most talented and special unicorns get accepted to PEGASUS. I mean, I don't think they even read my application. I had always thought you were just a student of Princess Celestia." As a filly, Rarity had sent in her application to the Royal School of Design at PEGASUS, but she had no recommendation, no name recognition, and barely any portfolio besides grade school costumes. She had received a polite rejection letter shortly thereafter. Rarity knew only a few unicorns in all of Ponyville who had ever studied at the Princess' school.

"Oh, Rarity. You're amazingly talented! Please don't ever sell yourself short. In fact, you are one of the most amazing ponies I've ever met! I'm sure I would never have got in the traditional way - at the time I barely had any control over my magic. It's just that I happened to be in Canterlot, and I came to the attention of the Princess through a crazy coincidence. It was pure luck." Twilight stated.

"Come now, my dear," said Rarity with a smile. "Now you're selling yourself short. You are the most powerful magician in Equestria, aside from the Princesses, and you know it." It was true. Rarity had never seen a unicorn with as much magical ability as Twilight Sparkle, who could perform spells to do practically anything. When they had discussed it in the past, Twilight Sparkle had suggested the possibility that her special talent was magic, and that's why she had so many different skills.

Twilight blushed. "I'm just a regular Equestrian." She grew serious. "But I do know something bad is about to happen, and we need to try to stop it. As I was saying, I received a letter from one of my old teachers at PEGASUS, and …"

Rarity interrupted her friend. "One of your old teachers? But I thought you were Princess Celestia's personal protege?"

"I suppose I was, but I still attended classes. One of my old teachers was Professor Morningstar. In fact," Twilight breathed, "Professor Morningstar was my favorite teacher after the Princess herself. I got a letter from him last night, and I'm very worried, Rarity."

"Go on, dear, I'm listening."

"He wrote that he had learned about a plot against the Princesses, and that he thought someone within PEGASUS was involved. He thought someone, or something, was watching him and he thought whatever was going to happen, it would happen at the Summer Sun Celebration. He asked for me to meet him at the Cantering Colt, an inn in Canterlot, tomorrow morning. He didn't think it would be safe to correspond, even by magical scroll. Worse, he was sure that someone was monitoring Princess Celestia's letters. If that's the case, I don't dare send a letter to her via Spike for fear that the conspirators might spring whatever they are planning early."

"Wait, so some batty old professor believes there is a conspiracy and you got nervous, oh Twilight!" Rarity exclaimed. "I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. If you're really concerned, you can always go to Canterlot tomorrow and ask the Princess in person." The wonderful thing about having a personal connection to Princess Celestia, and being well-known heroes of Equestria, was that they would surely never be refused an audience. Rarity was sure this whole thing would turn out to be nothing more than anxiety and exaggeration.

"Professor Morningstar is an amazing unicorn mage, and the leader of Princess Celestia's magic council. He's not one to imagine a conspiracy," Twilight rejoined. "If he believes there is a plot against the Princesses, then there surely is."

"But even if there is, why come to me?" Rarity asked, becoming frustrated.

"Because, Rarity, you understand intrigue, you're a unicorn and you won't draw attention on the grounds of PEGASUS. Most importantly, you have an amazing talent for magical illusion that goes way beyond any spells I can cast. I've seen you project an amazing light show to accompany your fashions just with your magic. You can disguise us with magic and with different outfits so we won't be recognized in Canterlot. I could have gone straight to Princess Celestia, but I'm sure the palace is being watched. I don't want anypony, myself included, to become a target before I even know what's going on. We need to travel incognito."

Rarity sighed deeply. "So you really think there might be another attack, just like last year? Or worse, like Discord? I thought we had saved Equestria for good after him," Rairty stated.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Twilight Sparkle admitted. "But I know we have to find out what's happening."

Rarity knew that eventually, Twilight would overcome all of her objections. She could not refuse a request for help from her obviously very worried friend, and it was true that she could help. She was quick with disguises, magical and otherwise, and had read more than one spy novel in her day. Rarity admitted defeat with grace. She would just have to find a way to try to relaunch her designs in the fall season.

"I will go with you, but I just have one last question, Twilight," Rarity stated.

"What's that?" the purple-coated unicorn asled.

"I assume I can still be considered 'incognito' if I only bring a few of latest creations, you know, just in case we happen to run into Hoity Toity."

"I promise," Twilight said, "that once we figure out what's going on in Canterlot, I'll do everything I can to get you an appointment with the royal tailor herself."

Rarity accepted. "For you, Twilight, you can count this pony in."

VIII. Every Night is a Winding Road

Rarity packed as quickly a pony of her sartorial predilection possibly could, which was to say that it took her quite a bit of time. Even if they were going to be traveling under cover, there were certain considerations to take into account - she couldn't very well disguise herself as an some old crony pony, could she?

Twilight Sparkle paced impatiently around the boutique as Rarity magically floated bits and baubles from her wardrobe around the room like a carousel of clothing, plucking items here and them from the whirl of fashion. Eventually, she assembled the sensible travel ensemble that she needed. hen, she carefully folded some of her latest designs into a travel pouch, just in case they had the opportunity to hawk her wares before any fashion bigshot. Magic would take care of the rest of the disguise.

Once Rarity was satisfied that she was ready, it was time for the next phase of travel preparation. The two unicorns raided Rarity's pantry and took what snacks they could find, dividing them between their respective packs. They managed to find some oats rolled in honey, alfalfa cakes, and a bit of hard cheese. It was not much, but Rarity preferred to eat out whenever possible. The ponies saw her wearing her fashions about town, the more would hopefully be enticed to try her shop. Twilight, Rarity knew, was fortunately not a big eater compared to the rest of their friends. They would be easily make it to Canterlot on these rations.

"We can't let anyone in Ponyville know where we've gone or why," Twilight stated. "Word travels fast, and we can't let whoever is following Professor Morningstar discover that he's asked me for help. Are you ready with the disguises?"

"I believe I can project an illusion that will cover both of us," Rarity replied. "I've been working on my illusion magic in order to mock up designs without having to actually sew anything together, and you know it can come in handy to spice up a show."

"I was counting on it," Twilight replied. "If you're all packed, I think we're ready. Oh, I know you would worry, so I've made arrangements to have Spike take care of Opalescence. We'll just drop her off on our way out of town."

"Thank you, Twilight. I'm sure Spike will take good care of Opal. But I thought we weren't telling anyone about this?" Rarity asked. Of course, if Twilight Sparkle could trust anyone, it would be her Number One Assistant, Spike.

"Oh, well," Twilight began, fidgeting, "I've taken special precautions in Spike's case. He won't tell anyone where we've gone or why. Ha ha, yep, no need to worry about Spike."

"Twilight Sparkle, what did you do?" Rarity asked, immediately seeing through Twilight's poor attempt at deception. She was nearly as bad as Applejack at lying! Well, whereas Applejack was essentially incapable of telling a falsehood, Twilight was merely incredibly obvious.

"Okay, you got me. I may have just slightly modified Spike's memory just an eensy teensy little bit," said Twilight.

"I'm surprised at you! You should know that you can trust your own friends, Twilight," Rarity said. "Especially Spike."

"I know," Twilight replied guiltily. "I was just afraid that if he let slip where we had gone that somepony else might tell, and then all of Equestria would know what we were up to and where we had gone, or worse, they'd all insist on coming along. We really need to keep a low profile."

'"Hmmph," Rarity replied, disappointed. "I just hope this doesn't come back to bite us in the flank. What if we need help?"

"I'm sure we'll manage. How could two tough unicorns like us get into any trouble we can't handle?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, I wonder," asked Rarity with a hint of sarcasm. By now they had been through enough trouble together to know better than to think that trouble wouldn't find them, somehow. "Just one more thing. Ponies will wonder if I'm not back for the Summer Sun Celebration to open the store. And if Sweetie Belle or Fluttershy, or for that matter any of our friends come looking for me, I want to at least leave a note telling them not to worry. Would that be okay?"

"That's fine, just as long as you don't mention Canterlot or that you're with me. With any luck we'll be back in time for the Celebration and nopony will ever read it, but I don't want anypony to worry any more than you do."

"Thank you," Rarity responded. She trotted over to her writing desk and magically manipulated quill, ink and paper to compose a notes. She had to think fast if she was going to leave a coded message that the extremely clever Twilight Sparkle wouldn't see through immediately. Of course Rarity was not going to refuse to help Twilight, especially with circumstances as dire as she had just described. Twilight was not a pony to exaggerate, and if she said she needed Rarity's help, then she unquestionably did. But at the same time, even if she and Twilight needed to travel stealthily, and even if their non-unicorn friends would only draw unwanted attention at a unicorn school, Rarity was not comfortable with leaving them no information and no way to find them in an emergency. After all, it took all six friends to vanquish Nightmare Moon and Discord, and each pony need her own piece of the Elements of Harmony for them to work. If she and Twilight needed help, there simply had to be a way for their friends sto find them.

"Are you coming?" Twilight asked with a tinge of impatience in her voice.

"One more moment, dear," Rarity replied. She loved language nearly as much as she did fashion, and spent every morning with a cup of strong coffee and the most difficult crossword puzzle in Equestria Today. She also did the jumble and cryptoquote. Given her love of word puzzles and hidden messages, she had immediately thought of leaving a coded message in code as a way of getting past Twilight's concern of being discovered. Rarity selected a simple letter counting scheme to hide her message, and began to write. Her floating quill quickly but delicately worked back and forth, up and down, as Rarity formed her message, counting in her head to make sure her code had no mistakes. She made sure to add a silly remark about organza that Twilight wouldn't understand but Fluttershy would immediately see to mean that something was amiss. She then made sure to add hidden instructions for decoding the puzzle. She signed the letter and put down the quill.

"Does this meet your approval?" Rarity asked Twilight. The lavender unicorn scanned the missive, which was on its face innocent and almost inane.

"Yep. Nopony would read this and guess we went off to Canterlot to stop a plot against the Princesses." Twilight responded. "Now are you ready?"

"I am," Rarity said. She strapped on her traveling bags over a traveling cloak and magically brought over the cushioned basket in which she had placed her sleeping cat. "Now, about those disguises, at least until we get out of Ponyville?" Twilight signaled that she was ready. "Here we go!" The tip of Rarity's horn glowed with incandescent light that stabbed forth in brilliant beams to every corner of the boutique, before finally glowing so brightly the two mares had to squeeze their eyes shut against the blinding light. All Rarity had to do was concentrate on the images she was trying to project, and picture them so vividily that they would be made real.

When the magical light finally subsided, nopony would have recognized Twilight Sparkle and Rarity. In their places were an orange-coated earth pony with a white mane and three bright yellow flowers on her flanks, and a dark purple earth pony with a deep blue mane and a pastry dessert for a cutie mark.

"Wow, Rarity. Your illusion magic is really amazing!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Well, this spell will only work if you stay close to me, and only if you concentrate on the illusion yourself. It requires both of us to work. That said, my name isn't Rarity," the purple pony said with a plainspoken intonation that sounded nothing like Rarity's cultivated accent. "It's Blueberry Cobbler, of the Los Manegeles Blueberries. "And you're my old friend Dandelion. We're on a post-college road trip and we're just passing through Ponyville on our way to Canterlot."

"That's perfect, Rar – er, Blueberry," Twilight replied in her own voice. "Now, we're ready."

"I suppose we are," Rarity said with a little sigh. She couldn't help but think of the summer line that was almost certainly not to be, and what the consequences would be to her career to have broken a contract. She might not be able to work with these stores again. Rarity supposed that saving Equestria was worth the loss. Maybe.

On their way out, Twilight took the basket containing Opal while Rarity locked the boutique and left her coded letter sticking out of the back door. With any luck, they would be back for the Summer Sun Celebration before anyone even knew they had gone. But just in case, Rarity was glad she had left the letter. It just seemed wrong to leave their friends no way to find them if the situation turned dangerous. Then, Dandelion and Blueberry Cobbler trotted out to the main boulevard and began making their way through Ponyville.

IX. See Through

After Rarity and Twilight Sparkle quietly dropped Opal off at the latter's library home, while being careful not to disturb either sleeping feline or sleeping dragon, the disguised pair of ponies continued on their way. Thanks to the earliness of the hour, they were able to avoid Ponyville citizens as they walked down the main road out of town. Gas streetlamps threw just enough light into the path to enable them to avoid bumping into each other.

As usual, Ponyville was quiet at night. Unlike Manehattan or Fillydelphia, Ponyville had a more rural character, and embraced the fields, farms and forests surrounding it. Whereas city ponies might spend every evening out on the town, Ponyville ponies tended to go to bed early and rise with the sun for another day's hard work. The clip-clop of their hooves added a pony element to the night music, but otherwise only the sound of insects and a few other night creatures filled the air. Of course, it would be a different story the next evening as ponies all over Equestria celebrated the eve of the summer solstice. Even here in Ponyville, ponies would stay up late or even all night in anticipation of the ceremonial sun-raising and the parties to follow. Tonight, however, Ponyville was its usual, quiet nighttime self.

Normally, Rarity would have been exhausted after a long day of solid work like the one she had put in today, but she could not stop her mind from racing from one thought to the next, imagining what developments this latest adventure would bring. With any luck, Twilight's professor was just imagining a problem, and they could all just go back to Ponyville for the celebration. Rarity had a bad feeling, however, that Twilight was right, and something was amiss. As she pondered whether or not this was nothing more than a foal's errand, a sharp voice suddenly shattered the still of night.

"Stop! Who goes there?" A tan-colored pegasus pony with an aqua mane and tail alighted nearby. Rarity could see that she wore the blue vest of the Ponyville citizens' watch, a vest which she herself had designed, she thought with a small measure of pride. Though Ponyville lacked a true police force like larger towns and cities possessed, the volunteer citizens' watch was well-trained, well-regarded, and fully sanctioned by Canterlot. Rarity recognized the pegasus as Raindrops. She was one of the ponies who was part of nearly every civic group, commission, volunteer organization, and charity. She often flew with Rainbow Dash as one of the volunteer weather patrollers, and Rarity sometimes saw her at meetings of the Beautification Committee. While Rarity and Raindrops knew each other on sight, they were not close friends. This, Rarity though, would be the first true test of their disguises.

Rarity spoke up before Twilight could, afraid that her guileless friend would give away the deception. "Oh, hello there, officer! My name's Blueberry Cobbler and my friend Dandelion and I were just passing through on our road trip across Equestria. We've been traveling at night so that we have the days to explore the towns we pass through."

"Good evening ma'am. My name is Raindrops, and I'm a member of the Ponyville citizens' watch. I've been flying around this part of town looking for some fillies and colts that have been tagging buildings with graffiti," said Raindrops. "I don't suppose either of you know anything about that?"

"No ma'am," Rarity replied. "We just finished college out in Los Manegeles, and we've never been to Ponyville before in our lives." She did her best to look Raindrops in the eyes as she explained her concocted identity.

"Well, it's a little late for you ladies to be out by yourselves. Not that there's any danger, of course, but I always expect troublemakers this close to the Summer Sun Celebration – ponies starting the party a little too early, you know."

"Oh, we'll watch out," said Rarity.

"Either of you ladies mind if I take a look at your cutie marks?" Raindrops asked.

"The word is at least one of the taggers had a brush and palette on her flanks."

"Oh, that's not us, then!" Twilight jumped in. "I've got a star …"

Rarity stifled a gasp and jumped in before Twilight could commit to the mistake. "A startlingly beautiful trio of flowers, yes, yes, Dandelion, you just have to show them off to everypony. You can certainly take a look, officer."

The pegasus narrowed her gaze slightly as Twilight sheepishly looked away, and then took off and flew in a tight circle around the pair of traveling ponies.

"Alright then, ladies, I'm sorry to have taken up your time. You can be on your way. Just exercise due caution, especially when you get outside of town. You know Ponyville is right on the edge of the Everfree Forest."

"Oh my, we'll stay away from there!" Rarity exclaimed, demurely cover her muzzle with one hoof in a dramatically shocked expression. "Thanks for checking on us, officer. We'll just move along, then."

Without a word, Raindrops nodded and then was gone into the dark night sky. Twilight looked back at Rarity and mouthed a silent "sorry."

Rarity shook off the apology and motioned for the pair to continue. The disguise had worked, she thought with pleasure. It wasn't long ago that complete illusions like this were a novelty. At first she had struggled even with projections, let alone full-body cloaks that could cover two ponies from muzzle to dock. Idly, she pondered whether she could use this magic to hide the inevitable signs of aging someday. Perhaps she could even create some sort of beauty product! It was comforting to think that even if her fashion business was ruined as a consequence of this crazy trip, there were always other options.

The pair kept walking, and it was not long before Rarity and Twilight Sparkle had left Ponyville entirely and entered onto the main road to Canterlot. On the right side of the road, the outer edge of the Everfree Forest loomed black and tall. On the left, rolling hills were barely visible by the dim light of the moon. In the Everfree Forest, nothing worked the same as in Equestria proper. The plants grew on their own, the weather just happened without a single pegasus pony, and the animals cared completely for themselves. It was creepy, without a doubt.

Rarity had been in the Everfree Forest before, first when the friends had found the Elements of Harmony deep within the ruined castle of the royal pony sisters in order to defeat Nightmare Moon, and later when they visited the zebra herbalist Zecora, who made her home in the strange woods. At that time, Rarity and even Twilight Sparkle had been convinced that Zecora was a wicked enchantress. Eventually, though, they had overcome their initial trepidation at her foreign ways, and had become friendly. Rarity knew that Twilight even counted Zecora as a good friend.

Given that the zebra made her home in the woods not far from this spot, Rarity was not all that surprised to see Zecora standing by the road about fifty pony lengths ahead of them, digging at the ground.

"Wait!" Twilight whispered. "There's somepony up ahead, beside the road."

"I know," Rarity whispered back. "It's Zecora."

"Zecora!" Twilight exclaimed happily, before apparently remembering to whisper again. "Zecora. Right, well, we're undercover, so let's just act naturally."

The pair continued onward, feigning obliviousness. As they drew near, Zecora offered a friendly greeting and trotted over.

"Two young ponies on the road at night, I confess you gave Zecora a fright!" Zecora stated as she stopped in front of Twilight Sparkle and Rarity. As always, she spoke entirely in rhyme, her words flowing like rich caramel on account of her exotic accent. Someday, Rarity would have to learn more about the land where zebras come from, and how Zecora ended up so far away from home. She was sure it would be an interesting tale.

"Hello, ma'am," Rarity spoke, dropping her usual accent in hopes of fooling Zecora. After all, they had gone this far with the ruse, and Twilight had been clear that even friends should not know of their journey, lest word reach Canterlot. "We're just passing through on a road trip. What are you up to out here at night?"

"I seek a mushroom that glows when it's dim, for a salve to treat sore and stiff limbs." Zecora gazed intently and unblinkingly at the two ponies, the scene lit only by the waxing gibbous moon. Zecora continued, "but more to your story there is I sense, and more to you two than mere innocence."

"Oh no, we're just two college-ponies out on a lark!" Twilight interjected. "You must be mistaken!" She chuckled nervously.

"Nay!" Zecora said. "Magic hangs heavy in the air, and in the garb you ponies wear!"

"I don't know what you're …" Rarity stammered, but Zecora shushed her.

"Hush, friends. you need not reveal what you're up to, for I can feel your purpose is good and true."

Well! Rarity was shocked. Even if Zecora could not recognize them, she could apparently somehow detect her magic disguise, and perhaps she could see through it completely. There was much to this zebra that remained a mystery, but then maybe that was for the best, Rarity thought. The Everfree Forest was terrifying to visit even at midday, let alone as a place to live. Rarity shuddered. At any rate, Rarity doubted that Zecora could convince Twilight to abandon her quest, if that was her plan.

Zecora spoke in a low voice, addressing the disguised Twilight directly. "I wonder if you have felt the shift, the change I fear is coming swift. A strange magic grim and fell, and whispers of a wicked spell. I know not what is to be done, but a dark sky approaches with the summer sun."

"I have felt it," Twilight replied softly. "And I will stop it."

Zecora focused a penetrating stare at her. "Then go and face what lies ahead, and place light in darkness' stead. But when you face your journey's end, I hope you don't miss all of your friends." She paused. "For though you are a pony of great might, alone you are merely one …" Zecora paused again, learning in toward the disguised Twilight Sparkle, and whispered so softly that it was barely audible, "Twilight."

Rarity and Twilight gasped simultaneously. With that, Zecora turned and trotted silently into the woods beside the road, and was gone.

X. Homecoming

The ponies made a good pace as they walked the road to Canterlot, now climbing ever higher as the road ascended the slopes of Mount Royal. The encounter with Zecora was still fresh in Rarity's mind, and she found herself feeling afraid for the first time. Perhaps she had never really quite believed Twilight's ambiguous sense of dread and story about a vague letter from an old professor, and perhaps there was just something about the zebra that gave her the creeps, despite knowing better. At any rate, now she felt the grip of fear closing in at the back of her mind.

"Rarity, it's okay. We'll be okay. We defeated Nightmare Moon, we defeated Discord. We can handle anything." Twilight gave her friend a determined and reassuring smile. "This just means our mission is that much more important. We'll find out what's happening in Canterlot, get to the bottom of it, and inform the Princesses. Then they can take care of … whatever it is."

"I suppose you're right, Twilight. It's just that Zecora is just so … creepy sometimes. I know she can't help it, but the rhymes, and the stripes, and the weird mushrooms … it's just too much!" Try as she might to avoid thinking about them, Rarity knew Zecora's ominous rhyme would haunt her. A wicked spell? A dark sky? What did it all mean?

"She is who she is, and she means well. She's been a good friend to us," Twilight replied. "And if anything, now we have even more of an indication that we are urgently needed in Canterlot."

"I guess so, Twilight," Rarity responded.

"When we first met Zecora, we all got a good lesson in not judging a pony, or zebra in that case, based on how they look, or sound, or what clothes they wear," said Twilight.

"I know, Twilight. I don't live in fear of Zecora anymore, but I still find her strange, and maybe just a little scary," Rarity said. "Worse, now I'm afraid about what could be waiting for us in Canterlot. What if it's more than we can handle? If there is danger, I think we should be facing it with the Elements of Harmony together and intact, not just the two of us alone."

"No, no, I wasn't criticizing. And I'm worried too, a little. But I have faith in us," Twilight replied. "What you said about Zecora and getting the creeps reminded me of when I was a filly at school, before I had been at PEGASUS for very long. There was a time when I was judgmental, and even prejudiced. I began to believe that unicorns were more special than earth ponies and pegasus ponies, because we can do conscious magic. I would read about how things are done where unicorn ponies are uncommon, like Winter Wrap-Up in Ponyville, and I would scoff and think how much simpler life would be if unicorns were in charge of everything. I even wrote essays on this. Needless to say, this was a sad, lonely time for me, before I had any real friends."

"Why, Twilight, I can't imagine you ever feeling that way," Rarity exclaimed. She considered her own innermost thoughts about the differences between the kinds of ponies. Did she too feel that unicorns were better? Certainly, Rarity thought, ponies could be proud without being prejudiced. Rainbow Dash would surely never trade her wings for her horn or Applejack's strong legs. "I'm sure you were just proud to be so gifted with magic," Rarity said.

"No, it's true, I was a bigot. I was so alone, that all I could think about was my need to feel special, and better than others. All my free time was spent studying, or with the Princess, and I never made friends at school. Spike was still too young to be much of a conversationalist. I never saw the world outside the palace and the school, and my privileged life in Canterlot. I became obsessed with being the best, and for a time I extended that obsession beyond academic to a belief in my own innate superiority. Eventually, I extended that to unicorn ponies in general."

"So you thought unicorns should run Equestria?" Rarity asked. "In a way, they do already you know. Most of the nobility are unicorns, and Canterlot, the capital, is a unicorn city."

"It was much more than that. I believed that the other ponies should all work for unicorns, as servants. I'm surprised I wasn't kicked out of school for writing things like this, even as young as I was. I was just so lonely."

"Then what changed your mind?" Rarity asked.

"One day, Princess Celestia took me aside. She told me, 'Twilight, I can feel your frustration and negative emotions, and I'm worried. You are a special pony, Twilight, in your own way. But so is each and every pony. You must not forget that.'

And then the Princess told me a story. 'A long time ago, long before you were born, even before Discord came to Equestria, the three types of ponies lived apart. Back then, Equestria was wild and untamed, much like the Everfree Forest is today. Nature operated all on its own, and the sun, moon, and weather all moved of their own accord. Someday, perhaps, I'll tell you how I came to move the sun and moon, but that's a story for another day.'"

"Why do you mean, the different types of ponies lived apart," Rarity asked.

"The Princess explained that back then, the pegasi lived in their cloud cities, and never came down to earth. There were few of them, because they didn't know how to farm or work the earth. Instead, they swooped down and took whatever they could find growing wild, and built nothing upon the earth. They were as ephemeral as the wind. The earth ponies were numerous, and built towns and farms wherever they could spread, but they lacked control over the clouds and weather, and were subject to the privations of draught and famine. They lived lives of scarcity and disease. The unicorns, Princess Celestia said, made her saddest of all, because they seemed to lack any connection to the world at all. Instead of enjoying the beautiful earth, and the beautiful sun and moon and stars in the sky, or sharing their gift of magic with the other ponies, they only squabbled among themselves, trying to prove who had the most powerful magic. They built monuments, and then destroyed them when the next powerful magician came along. In this way the unicorns were nearly lost entirely.

"But today, obviously all the ponies live together in harmony," Rarity said. "So what happened?"

"Princess Celestia told me that at that time she despaired for ponydom, and thought that her dream of a harmonious Equestria was lost forever. She was prepared to abandon the ponies and move on to someplace new. Then, somepony close to her suggested they wait just a little longer, and have faith in the ponies. One dark day, when it seemed the unicorns were about to vanish forever, a group of earth ponies came upon the last unicorns. They had little more than a bare cave to show for themselves, and half-forgotten stories of a ruined empire. But the earth ponies gave the unicorns food and shelter, and made them part of their community. In return, the unicorns taught writing and brought along the trappings of their dead civilization. In time, the pegasus ponies on their clouds saw the prosperous new society, and came down to join their sisters and brothers. Working and living together the ponies became able to control the seasons, tame the animals, and harvest enough food for everyone. Together, the ponies lived harmoniously where apart they had struggled so mightily."

"So unicorns in the past felt like you did as a little filly," Rarity summarized. "And they actually fought with each other?"

"Yes," Twilight Sparkle replied. "And they nearly destroyed each other to a pony. I knew the truth in Princess Celestia's story, because I knew that I felt the same thoughts and ambitions as those early unicorns in their crumbling citadels, and I realized what the few survivors came to realize – Equestria needs every kind of pony. I thanked the Princess, and turned back to my studies with a new determination and a sense of optimism. But even though I've never had those dark thoughts since, I still feel ashamed at what I believed, and I've made a promise to myself to never underestimate or undervalue anypony."

"But Twilight," Rarity began cautiously, "I think you may have overvalued unicorn once again by leaving the rest of our friends back in Ponyville." Perhaps it was a hasty thing to say, but as Rarity grew more and more anxious about the journey, she kept wishing more and more strongly that the rest of their friends were with them.

"This is different!" Twilight exclaimed defensively. "This truly is a situation where you, not only because you're a unicorn, but because any of the rest of our friends would immediately blow our cover!"

"That's probably true," Rarity conceded. "Anyway, I think we all have felt similar things, back in the primitive part of our brains, Celestia forgive us. But we must try to be better, and celebrate our differences." Rarity reminded herself to do the same, and to remember that anypony could be elegant and beautiful, not only unicorns. Why, Hoity Toity himself was an earth pony, as was fashion photographer Photo Finish, and the amazing singer Sapphire Shores. Rarity had heard stories of the famously elegant society ponies of Manehattan as well, and that was the largest and most prosperous earth pony city in Equestria. Then there was the fact that her friend Fluttershy, a pegasus, was perhaps the most graceful pony she knew.

"You know," Twilight began, "I've never had more fun in my life than experiencing Winter Wrap-Up and the Running of the Leaves in Ponyville, and I can only imagine how much fun Applejack would have experiencing the magic way we did things in Canterlot. And the big city ponies in Manehattan would be all out of sorts in Appleoosa, and vice versa, but Equestria thrives because of all the different ponies in these different places. That was what the Princesses always hoped for when Equestria was new," said Twilight wistfully. "At least, that's what Princess Celestia told me."

"Twilight, speaking of Canterlot, we're nearly at the main gate," Rarity stated. It was true – in the near distance the outer wall of Canterlot loomed against the moonlit side of Mount Royal. The sky was becoming brighter as dawn approached, and the capital city of Canterlot, built into a mountainside and suspended partly through architectural skill and partly through powerful spells high above the plain below, glistened as the first rays of morning struck its alabaster towers. It was always an amazing sight to behold, and not for the first time Rarity imagined what her life would be like if she had grown up a Canterlot unicorn, living amidst the glamor and royalty of the capital. She felt a sense of anticipation welling up inside as she realized that the adventure, wherever it may lead, was about to begin in earnest.

Around the next bend the road turned into an arrow-straight path toward the city gate. Pickets wearing royal armor occupied guard posts at regular intervals along the path, performing a largely ceremonial role in this peaceful age. The city gate itself, the Great Gate of Canterlot, formed a three hundred length high arch, decorated in every shade of color a pony could imagine. Twilight Sparkle and Rarity passed the pickets without incident, as any pony was free to come and go in Canterlot. As they walked under the Great Gate, Rarity looked up to see intricate bas-reliefs depicting the sun, moon and stars on the underside of the formidable structure. Still wearing their illusory disguises as Dandelion and Blueberry Cobbler, Twilight Sparkle and Rarity calmly passed through the gate and into Canterlot.

"Well, we're in," Rarity announced. "Now what?"

"We go to PEGASUS, of course," Twilight Sparkle replied.

"I've always wondered, why do they call the unicorn school PEGASUS? Couldn't they have thought of a better acronym?" Rarity asked as they walked down the cobblestone main boulevard. "I mean, is there a pegasus school called UNICORN?"

"You've never heard of the University of Cloudsdale College of Raincloud Nullification?" asked Twilight Sparkle with a note of incredulity.

"That's not a real thing," Rarity said, ninety percent sure that Twilight Sparkle had made the name up on the spot.

"You'll just have to ask Rainbow Dash," Twilight replied with a wink. "By the way, I can't wait to show you around the school. There's an amazing library, and a bookstore with just about any book you could want, and the largest printing press for scholarly publications in all of Equestria!"

"But those all have to do with books," Rarity pointed out. "I thought you were supposed to have fun at school, too. I mean, you're a graduate student now. Surely you have some favorite haunts from your wild and crazy college days we can visit." Rarity suspected Twilight had not had any wild and crazy days. She remembered when Twilight Sparkle had invited her and Applejack over for Twilight's very first slumber party, less than a year ago.

"Oh, ha ha," Twilight Sparkle laughed nervously. "Sure, I had a few wild nights of studying here and there. But we are going to my favorite place to hang out. The Cantering Colt is where all the teachers go for a mug of cider after work, and so it was the best place to go looking for extra homework!"

Rarity rolled her eyes at the studious pony's description and looked over to see Twilight smiling with her eyes closed, clearly lost in a happy memory from her school days. Maybe this trip would be worth it just to see this part of Twilight. After all, her friend had been in Ponyville only a year, but had lived in Canterlot her whole life.

"Then let's go meet this professor of yours and find out what he thinks is so urgent," said Rarity.