"I Starswirl the bearded do not know what price I shall have to pay for divulging these secrets which I have promised to keep, or for divulging what the Chapdeans of Maretonia called the "Bereshit Raz" The secret Genesis which has been kept hidden by their sect for 4000 years. Yet the horrors I have seen must be divulged so that mortal mare may have but a slim chance at survival. It was in the year 980 AU when tensions between my students Princess Luna, ruler of the Night and warden of the abyss, and Princess Celestia, ruler of the day and cleanser of the earthreached their breaking point. Of the two Luna was the more intelligent, and truly my preferred student but her lack of emotional control and her brooding disposition forced me to make sure that Celestia was caught up so that she might have someone to keep her in check once I pass. A few years before, Luna had become obsessed with a legend which stated that if the night never ended there was a chance for mass ascension to godhood for all ponies, so that neither would have to suffer the death of those held dear to them. Celestia opposed this stating the risks were too great for the process to undertake. She came to me hoping for an ally but on this despite my heart, I sided with Celestia. In her rage and desperation Luna made a pact with the forces of the first creation which she was tasked with imprisoning. Dubbing herself Nightmare Moon, Luna acted swiftly and efficiently killing all but one of the pillars so that none could oppose her. Whether I was spared out of spite or sentimentality I do not know, but with the elements Celestia and I managed a desperate bid to banish Luna to the Moon in shackles of Adamantine and engraved with the names of the host of Yew, the first Stallion. Know this, the chains shall one day break in a thousand years, and the longest day shall become the longest night."
Twilight gently lowered the book with her telekinesis, her aura briefly illuminating the few stacks of paper and books which were just out of reach of the candlelight. "Disappointing.." She huffed, "as usual." Here she was, having just translated a text by perhaps the greatest pre mage of pre classical Equestria and instead of theory or techniques lost to time, she got his diary. And judging by the content and some of the rather suspect claims made, it was most likely written when he was already quite old and quite insane.
The tip tap of clawed bipedal steps and a boyish voice interrupted her brooding, "Didn't find what you were looking for huh." As usual either his age or lack of formal training failed to grasp the full weight of the situation Twilight found herself in. As such Twilight did not see it fit to turn to him instead choosing to scowl at the book as if intimidating it would somehow get her results.
"That's not the half of it..." She muttered to herself nudging the manuscript away before burying her face in her hooves in a which made her mane almost flip over to the front. "I promised Princess Celestia that I'd come back from the archives with results! But all I have is some pottery spells and a bunch.. of...of.." She gesticulated wildly knocking more books to the floor, "Mumbo Jumbo!" For his part spike simply gave an apathetic grunt of mild agreement clearly aware that Twilight was now in her own panicked little world.
Spike ran a claw under his chin, going on his tippy toes to get a better look at the manuscript, as if perhaps he could find something that Twilight couldn't. "You know, this Starbeard-"
"Starswirl." Twilight corrected him, still not making eye contact, her voice just slightly muzzled by the table which she had slammed her face into.
"Excuse me Starswirl guy lived, almost a thousand years ago, don't you think it's kinda sorta possible that magic has advanced since then. Dude probably still believed in bloodletting." So Spike did find something, just a new way to spin it, "Maybe you could... uhm..uh come up with a study on the advancement of magic!" His voice became more hopeful on the last note.
"You don't get it Spike.." Groaned Twilight, "Starswirl was the greatest mage of all time! Ponies have died trying to do what he did! Do you know what Princess Celestia would do to me.. to us if she found out I got nothing out of this but a crappy, 'magic through the ages' presentation?"
"She'd give you another assignment?" Asked spike clearly waiting for Twilight to blow this situation out of proportion like any other time she thought she had disappointed Celestia.
"She'd cut my stipend! She'd drop me as her student!" Twilight slammed her hooves into the table before giving another inarticulate cry. "Spike what am I going to do? If she drops me I can't stay here, I'd be laughed out of the university, I couldn't even go back to mom and dad!"
"You know." Replied Spike, "Going back to spend some time with mom and dad isn't the worst thing in the world."
Twilight huffed, "You're not the one who'd come back completely humiliated." Spike resisted telling her that happened every time the two of them came home for the holidays. "I gotta think fast..." Twilight scanned the room nervously, "Spike tell me what you know about pre classical Equestria?!"
Spike rubbed the back of his head and quite skeptical of his use as most of his information on the subject had come from Twilight. "Uhhh... no plumbing... war with the griffins.... the old capitol was in the foreverfree forest or something."
"The Castle in the Everfree forest!" Twilight jolted up her grin just a tad unhinged before she turned around and began to excitedly shake her adopted brother, " Spike you're a genius! I'll just say that after reading this I felt I needed to lead an expedition for more context!"
Spike paused his expression grew doubtful, "Isn't that place, like a magical biohazard?" Twilight 'playfully' swatted him before laughing once more.
"Oh Spike we'll just be there for a couple of hours! We'll be fine! Now let's write that letter." With a resigned sigh Spike took a page and quill off of Twilight's desk and began to transcribe.
"Dear princess Celestia, after a thorough investigation of the Royal Canterlot archives it has come to my attention that to gain an understanding of Starswirl's techniques an expedition to the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sister's will be required. While I understand the cost of hiring a crew of diggers would be somewhat large I can assure you that the price would be worth it, sincerely, your student, Twilight Sparkle."
With a puff of green flames the letter vanished, as Twilight tapped her hoof for what seemed like 20 minutes, her grimace growing tighter with each second. Then at almost exactly the 20 minute mark another letter came forth from Spike's mouth. "Come on read it! What's it say!" Asked Twilight with aggressive anticipation that would make an observer assume she was the younger sibling.
"My dearest student, I will grant your request for an expedition as well as room and board," Twilight's smile grew wider, as she leaned uncomfortably close to Spike, "On the condition that you also help organize the Summer Sun Celebration that will be held in Ponyville. Transportation will be provided tomorrow morning." On that Twilight's smile fell like a rock.
"Give me that." Said Twilight snatching it from Spike's hand with her telekinetic grip before reading it over. To her horror it contained everything Spike said. "Seriously? She wants me to organize a party? But I'm not even good at attending them!"
"Come on Twi, it can't be that hard.." Said Spike, "Think of it... like.. like an applied military logistics simulation." That was the closest parallel he could think of in her wheelhouse.
"But it's not! It's filled with ponies who I'll have to talk to.. who sweat and.. and complain... and.. and don't listen to what I tell them to do!"
Spike rolled his eyes, "Sounds horrible.." His voice was dripping with sarcasm at Twilight's description of the horrors of social interaction.
Twilight of course was oblivious to this, "It is! And Celestia wants to throw me into the middle of some bumblebuck town I haven't even heard of!" Twilight finished her pacing and threw the letter as far as she could into some dark corner of the archive.
"Twi, it's not gonna be that bad, you'll just have a checklist and ask simple yes or no questions. It's an annual tradition that towns compete for, do you really think you're going to get that involved when you show up two days beforehand?"