Contrast

The sun had just risen, and the roosters had just sung their song. Morning in Ponyville shimmered, and Twilight had begun to slowly open her eyes.

"Aagh!" Twilight jumped in shock from the sudden sight. The face of her friend so close to her was about the last thing she expected to see upon waking up. "Applejack?"

"Twilight, I'm afraid I haven't been completely honest with ya," Applejack immediately began speaking in a rather serious tone. "As the element of honesty, it is my duty to tell you everything I know." After taking a deep, long breath, she continued. "Yesterday I bucked less apples than I usually do. I had apple fritters for breakfast this morning. I've always envied pegasi for being able to fly. Granny Smith is much older than she looks..."

"Applejack?" Twilight tried to interrupt.

"I've always wanted Sweet Apple Acres to be called Red Apple Orchards, instead. I never really was too good at math. Monday is my favorite day of the week..."

"Applejack..." Twilight spoke louder than last time.

"Sometimes I wish my cutie mark had been a single apple, rather than three. I still don't very much like the idea of Discord being our friend now. I feel like purple hair would suit me much better..."

"Applejack!"

"I don't know where babies come from. I wish I had a bigger sister. Sometimes I eat so many apples before bed that I can't fall asleep for two hours. I really hate Angel Bunny. I think Celestia is overrated-"

"Aaapplejaaack!" Twilight yelled at the top of her lungs, finally making her friend stop talking.

"Yes, Twilight?" Applejack asked in a casual tone.

Twilight continued only after a series of long panting. "I know *pant* why you're really here."

"Then how come ya ain't lettin' me do it?" she asked in disappointment.

"Because..." Twilight panted and then took a deep, long breath, forcing herself back into a more tranquil state. "That's not what being the element of honesty is really about."

"It isn't?" Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, Applejack," she confirmed her words. "Being honest means never telling a lie in a conversation. It has nothing to do with being compelled to tell everyone about every single detail of your life," Twilight explained in an academic manner.

"Uhm...mind telling that to this weirdo?" Applejack said as she pointed behind herself.

Both ponies stared and saw no one other than themselves and a sleeping baby dragon in the room.

"Shoot!" Applejack exclaimed. "Ah coulda sworn he came in here with me..."

"It's okay, Applejack." Twilight placed her hoof on her frustrated friend's shoulder. "He's gone, now."

"Wait...so you believe me?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Twilight counter-questioned. "You are the element of honesty, after all."

"But I haven't even told you who was it that I thought came in here with me!"

"I'm guessing you're referring to the same guy that wouldn't stop bothering me, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash last night."

Applejack's eyes shot wide open after such a response. "Did he also try to convince all of you that you're not really the element of harmony you represent?" she asked and continued after seeing Twilight nod. "Why, of all the!" She stomped her hoof in frustration. "Who does he think he is, anyways?"

"I have no idea," Twilight instantly admitted. "But I sure would love to find out."

"Maybe one of your book has something about him?"

"Maybe so, but where would I even begin? The only thing I know about him is that he comes and goes as he pleases, and that he can talk to you without even being present in the room."

"Uhh...come again?" Applejack asked, confused by the last part of Twilight's sentence.

"That's how he talks to me, it's like a voice in my head. I haven't even seen what he looks like!" Twilight explained. "Speaking of which..." Twilight jumped out of her bed and started heading downstairs. "Could you describe him for me? Maybe that would give me at least some idea of what to look for."

"Uhm..." Applejack followed her downstairs while trying to figure out how to best describe the creature. "Well, darn. I don't even know what he was! All I can say is that he wore black clothing on every part of his body and that he walked on two legs like he was born to do it...Not to mention - way too tall to be a pony."

"All in black, huh?" Twilight began rubbing her chin.

"Black shoes, black hat over his face, black coat, even black gloves on his...erm...paws."

"Paws?" Twilight repeated.

"Not really paws," Applejack corrected herself while rubbing the back of her neck. "More like claws, but not sharp...If that makes any sense to you," she added sheepishly.

"Well, it's not much to go on, but I'll do what I can to find out more about him."

"Please do, Twilight." Applejack started heading towards the exit. "I don't wanna see Fluttershy going around apologizing to everypony for not being apologetic enough."

Twilight nodded and saw Applejack out.

"And be sure to call us if you find out how to stop him!" Applejack shouted from a distance. "Even without the elements, I reckon the six of us should have no problem making him leave us alone!"

As Twilight closed the door, she already suspected what was about to follow.

"That wasn't very friendly of you..." the seemingly ubiquitous voice whispered to Twilight. "There she was, just being honest with you, and you just went and started yelling at her for that...Do you always treat your friends like this?" he asked with a mocking attitude.

"Talk all you want," Twilight impassively replied. "You're going to have to take a hike, sooner or later."

"What a shame...and we were just getting to know each other better."

His words seemed to leave no impact on Twilight. The purple pony simply started sorting through her books as though she was alone in the room.

The voice yawned. "Wake me up once it gets a bit darker, would you? I've never really had much love for the sun."

With those words, the anonymous presence left Twilight's head, leaving her alone with her books.