Interlude - Flashback
“I located the next one. At least I think I did.”
“After all this time! Is it what we predicted it to be? Is it Celestia?”
“Seems like it, though still pure speculation. I already packed my things and I’m also taking HER with me.”
“You’re departing for Canterlot? Very well. But you will inform me once it’s confirmed. I don’t want you to leave without me, like you did last time.”
“Hey, are we still talking about that?”
“Just go you crazy ol’ horse.” The baron laughed as the other colt angrily shut the door behind him.

Another usual day in Ponyville just ended in a beautiful sunset, with Twilight Sparkle watching from her balcony. She lived for moments like this so long as Spike stayed down in the library. He quite wasn’t into such romantic stuff as he proclaimed himself and so she tended to send him do some useless work, while she enjoyed a cup of tea through the dusk.

The songs of birds and the chirping of locusts may give the illusion, however even at night Ponyville was far from being a peaceful town. She didn’t know why exactly, but Twilight decided to go out tonight, maybe to buy some ink in the store or to help somepony in trouble. Or she could bump into one of her friends. Then they would have a wild night adventure, preferably including a manticore, a hydra, or a dragon, or perhaps all three of them, and they would solve the problem as always, with a friendship lesson in the form of a letter to the Princess in the end. Twilight laughed at her fabricated story and went down to sum up some money for the night.

“What? But why can’t I go with you? It’s so boring here. Please, let me come with you, let me come with you.” Spike’s complaints unpleasantly surprised Twilight.

“For Celestia’s sake, quit bugging me Spike! I’m just going out for a walk, no worries! And I thought you got some sweeping to do.”

“Aww, claws! That su-“ Twilight shut the door behind her and left the baby dragon alone. She wasn’t in the mood for a fight, and Spike seemed especially rude today.

While trotting up the street, Twilight couldn’t stop but wonder if something had happen to her assistant. ‘Hmm, surely, it’s nothing.’ She threw the worries away and focused on the road ahead. And that’s when she realized that one of the abandoned houses was all lit up. That for sure was weird and worthy of investigating. After she spotted the SOLD sign however, she simmered down. She was little disappointed, but thinking about it made her excited in another way. ‘New neighbors, huh? Well that could be nice. I’ll be sure to pay them a visit tomorrow.’ She saw a dark figure in a black cape leaving the building a moment later. It was strange, yet again, she made herself to stop think about it.

Inevitably, Twilight had to pass around Sugarcube Corner. Loud music echoed far across the town and cheerful shouts could be heard. As expected, a great party was being held at Pinkie’s apartment. She forced herself to gallop, because the crazy pink pony wasn’t quite the amusement she searched for tonight. With the lowest of luck, Pinkie Pie was just greeting the newcomers at the door and not even Twilight could escape the attention of Pinkie’s blue eagle eye.

“Hey Twilight, that is some coincidence that I met you here. So I take it you’re here for my party? I don’t see any other reason you could be running around.” Again, Twilight couldn’t manage to keep up with the lively pony.

“At least one of my best friends should be present, and Applejack has farm work to do, Fluttershy’s got problems with animals, Rarity needs to finish the new fashion order and-“

“Well, what about Rainbow Dash?” Twilight brought up the name of the energic pegasus. She really loved Pinkie’s parties, still, enough was enough, and unlike hyperactive Pinkie Pie, Twilight also needed some time to rest. A frown passed over Pinkie’s face.

“Twilight, you know I’m not talking to her. She wouldn’t come anyways. And I don’t want to waste her precious time.” The despiteful accent stroke Twilight’s ears with potent force. She remembered that they had an argument four days ago, when Rainbow didn’t show up for cupcakes baking. Pinkie Pie was very angry and refused to speak with Rainbow Dash to this day.

‘Talk about overreacting, especially after Rainbow Dash got out of hospital only a week ago.’ It was just few cuts and bruises, but Dash appeared to be somewhat faint since. Somepony said that it was the tough work in Cloudsdale, Twilight on the other side thought it had been because of Scootaloo moving away.

“Hello?! You still there? Are you coming to the party or not?” The rushed question onslaught pulled the unicorn back to present. “I won’t mind if you don’t want to go, just answer already, I got guests to attend to and stuff.”

“Well, you see, I am sorr-“

“Okay, see you later!” In a blink of an eye, the pink pony was back at the door, not caring for her purple friend anymore. Eased by Pinkie Pie’s surrender, Twilight slowed her pace down. Each closed store she passed reduced her hope to get the ink tonight, and she was about to turn around at the next one, if it wasn’t for a pony she sighted at the end of the street. ‘It’s him again!’ This time, examining the caped stranger a little further, she captured the full measure of his stature. It was a fine-grown stallion with monumental body, rivaling even Big Macintosh. Trussed upon his back, Twilight recognized a mountain backpack, and small pouches stuck out from behind his cloak, altogether with something that looked like some kind of sheath.

The road he was going led straight out of town into the pleasantly warm night. Newfound sensation fell on Twilight and the full moon enhanced her excitement more. ‘Ha! Spike will probably have to wait longer than he thought. He’s surely going to throw a party of his own anyways; I just hope his friends don’t break anything important.’

She stopped overthinking and forced herself back to reality, submerging fully into the moment. After she reached the forest, however, the sound of distant cheering went down; music could no longer be heard, too. It became clear she still had a long, winding path laid before her. She was amazed with herself, for the pony she was following didn’t seem to be aware of her presence. Either she was good at sneaking, or the colt didn’t mind being followed. She found the latter option especially creepy, because she could be walking into a trap. These things rarely happened in Equestria, let alone from another pony. On the other hoof, she heard about bandits robbing ponies beyond its borders.
Twilight put her hoof on her forehead, as if trying to gain more optimistic scenario from her mind. This universal worry about everything controlled her head too much lately. Discarding those thoughts, she focused on the road ahead again. Seeing the castle draw closer, she determined they were heading for Canterlot. That was ridiculous. A travel by train always took at least a day to get there. She wasn’t ready for such trip. ‘Well, the railway actually goes around the Sky Mirror Lake and along the mountains after that.’ Realizing the full length of the route, hope sparkled in the unicorn’s mind. ‘If I take the speed of the train, my average speed on the way… Oh, yes yes! This looks promising!’ A glance upon the royal palace met her expectations. The details seen matched the distance she imagined. ‘Hey! It really isn’t that far!’ Holding onto the prospect of soon arrival, she continued.

It could have been two, three hours at most of trotting and hiding, when they reached the stone gate to the city. The gate itself was usually closed, today not being any different, so the only way to get inside the city was through several side doors by the walls, which ordinary ponies used to enter. Twilight chose the one to the left, the opposite side of where the caped colt walked in. After a short pause, the door she knocked on opened. The guard nodded, recognizing Celestia’s one and only student, and allowed her to pass the narrow corridor. Beyond the walls, she used the cherry-tree across the street for a break. ‘It´ll be a while before they let the stranger go. Hell, he might even need to pay for the entrance.’

Relaxed, Twilight put her legs to rest, and listened to the fancy talk of the unicorns going by. Ponyville had lively nights, yes, but Canterlot was a whole other thing. This city never slept. Bustling with activity, many clubs and bars remained available twenty four hours a day. Although classy, they all served different kinds of suspicious cider and drunken singing was heard through the streets. She got up and peeked behind the trimmed door to check what progress the stranger had made. His disappearance unnerved her.

“Lady Sparkle, are you looking for the gentlecolt that has just passed?” The guard addressed her.

“Well, yes, yes I am.” She responded, startled by the fact the guard discovered her that easily.

“I believe he’s headed for the castle. Showed me a letter with royal seal.”

She thanked the janitor, closed the door and built up her speed to catch up with the stranger. Rushing up the street like that reminded her of Rainbow Dash and she really wished for her wings right now as the road went straight up to the castle. Several minutes later, she finally stood at the portal door to the castle, gasping for air. One of the royal guards unlocked it for her and she let herself into the main hall.
The vestibule never failed to amaze her, despite staying the same for hundreds of years. The silken banners hang down on each wall of the great hall in fabulous colors and the tiled floor was polished and shining as always. The soft red carpet, running to every room and up the stairway, made a delicate touch with her hooves, the one that tempted her to dance. Walking up to auditioning chamber, she could not miss the mosaics depicting both the sun and the moon. She knew Princess was in the room just around the corner; however, the golden framed paintings on both sides were hypnotically interesting and kept slowing her down. The doors she aimed for opened, breaking the silence.

“-err, no, thank you very much. It’s been a long time, but I think I can escort myself to my room. I’ll come down later to discuss my arrival.” The voice was youthful and sharp, yet harmonic.

“Alright.” The answer came from no other than Princess herself. Nopony else had a tone so calm, so melodic.
The large mirror at the door caught Twilight’s attention, with the swirling black cloak reflected inside. The cape stayed the same; it was the character she was curious about. Only a second-long glimpse answered her with more questions. The figure exceeded anypony, being tall over six feet, and it did not reach that much on four legs. Instead… Twilight rubbed her eyes in fear she was seeing things and proceeded to the chamber.

“What a pleasant surprise! How come you are paying me a visit tonight, Twilight Sparkle?” The intonation and the smile of amusement gave Twilight a hint that Celestia already learned the reason.

“Am I really that easy to look through? Yes, I am here because of him. Who is he?”

“An old friend of mine. I am sure you’ll have an opportunity to talk to him soon. By the way, did you really trot here all the way from Ponyville? You must be very tired.”

She was. Concluding the morning was wiser than the evening, she wished Princess good night and headed for her own room. She stopped at the mirror and cast a spell, which revealed the glass was enchanted. Few words were inscripted on the lower frame. It read: Reveals the true appearance of things.

After making her way to the room, she spread wide the canopy and fell right into the bed. Her last thought before falling asleep belonged to the mysterious acquaintance of the Princess. ‘Have I… really just seen a human?’

Author's Note

I don't actually know how far it is to Canterlot from Ponyville, so that trip is probably bullsh*t. But I just had to give an explanation, right?