After having Spike make a long list, the little dragon was exhausted, so she let had to lay down for a nap while she left the castle. She would give her friends time to cool down from all they have learned and then get right to her interviews with them.

Her curiosity was perfectly warranted. After all, she had discovered several big secrets about her friends and was looking forward to more research. Omitting their names from any publication of course.

That made it right… right?

Twilight decided to swing by Sugarcube Corner and grab some donuts. When she entered, she saw other ponies trotting about the establishment and eating desserts.

She spotted Pinkie and trotted over to her.

“Hey Pinkie!” Twilight said.

“Hi Twi!” Pinkie said trotting over to her.

“Two Donuts and a cinnamon roll please, and glaze the roll with Diamond dust,” Twilight said.

“Oooh, Diamond dust! Goin fancy today eh?” Pinkie said.

“Spike earned it. He’s been through alot since, you know,” Twilight said.

“Ah yeah. How’s he feeling? About Rarity?” Pinkie asked, making sure nopony was overhearing.

“He’s a little hurt. But I convinced him to have a talk with her.” Twilight said.

“Good, and how bout you, Twi?” Pinkie asked skeptically.

“What about me?” Twilight asked confusedly.

“When are you going to spill your secret?” Pinkie asked.

Twilight sighed hearing this because she had been dreading the inevitable question. “Pinkie, I already told you I don’t have a secret. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve always been a pony.”

“The others don’t see it but I can tell there's something off…” Pinkie said.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked in genuine confusion.

“I bet you’re secretly…. A JACKALOPE!” Pinkie declared at the top of her lungs.

“Pinkie, shh!” Twilight said before bringing her in close. “A jackalope? Seriously? A rabbit with antlers?”

“Sure!” Pinkie said.

“Pinkie, no!”

“Oh! Maybe a sea serpent!” Pinkie guessed.

“Really?... I don’t even look like a serpent…” Twilight said with a bemused look.

“Pumpernickel?” Pinkie said.

“That’s a type of bread! Look, I have to get quills later so can you please get me my order?” Twilight said not wanting the weird guessing game to go on.

“Gotcha gotcha!” Pinkie said, zipping away and returning with the order almost immediately.

Twilight thanked Pinkie and then she headed out to do the rest of her delayed morning chores with a near-silent mutter of “I have no idea how she used to be a harbinger of doom…”

With only a few stops left, Twilight picked up her weekly order at quills and sofas and headed to the market. Shopping for produce always made her feel better, visiting several stands and filling her shopping basket little by little.

“Maybe a vegetable stew tonight. I certainly need some comfort food…” Twilight muttered as she approached the apple stand.

“Hey Applejack, could I have some-” Twilight paused when she saw it was Big Mac behind the cart.

“Oh, hey. Big Mac, what are you doing here? Isn’t it Applejack's turn to run the apple stand?” Twilight asked

“Hey Twi, AJ’s not feelin’ up to it today so she asked me to trade chores with her t’day,” Big Mac stated.

“Why? Is she sick?” Twilight said concerned for her friend.

“Eenope, she’s just bellyaching about that meeting you all had,” Mac casually said.

“She… didn’t talk about what the meeting was about… right?” Twilight asked.

“Eenope,” Mac said.

“Ok, good. That stuff is private,” Twilight said.

“Understood,” Mac said.

“I’ll have a dozen Granny Smiths,” Twilight said.

“Ok,” Big Mac gathered the green apples into a basket and collected the bits in return. “Thanks.”

“Your welcome,” Twilight said before trotting away.

She thought about recent events… So far she had a Dragon Pony, a Changeling, a former horse of the apocalypse, and a vampony as her friends. Celestia only knows what Applejack is, which brought up the obvious question. Should Celestia know about this? Undoubtedly, but not now. She needed her friend's permission first of all and had to consider Celestia’s point of view first.

Wouldn’t want an unrightful smiting, would we?

Twilight had to find out more about them. She needed notes, not just because of her nature as a scholar but as a means to find out more and contribute to research… but would that be an invasion of their privacy? Would it be ethical to ask them questions like that? She didn’t know, but sooner or later things would come to a head on this, and she hopes that Celestia-

*THUD*

Twilight’s thoughts were interrupted when she bumped into a solid figure, lost her balance, and fell down.

At first she thought it was Bulk Biceps, because who else could be mistaken for a wall, but when she looked up she saw a hooded figure. He was a stallion of average height if not slightly taller, with a white coat and blonde tail.

He offered a hoof to help her stand, and Twilight reached for it out of reflex.

“Oh uh, sorry about that, I was lost in thought and-” Suddenly he grabbed her hoof and pulled her in.

Twilight prided herself on developing her earth pony strength. After much practice, she was strong enough to get third place in hoof wrestling amidst her friend group.

This mysterious stallion's grip was solid as his movement. She couldn’t break his grip and gasped a little when he put his mouth right next to her ear.

“The time is near… leave Equestria before they find you,” he said before helping the nervous mare the rest of the way to her hooves.

“Who are you? Let me go!” Twilight tried to break his grip but she couldn’t even budge him.

“Listen. One of your friends is hiding something else. Learn it or leave before it’s too late.” He released her and she fell backwards onto the ground. When she looked up, he was trotting away.

“Hey! Come back!” Twilight tried to go after him but as another pony passed between them.

He vanished…

Twilight paused and looked around but she didn’t see anything but ponies going about their day.

“What the hay?...” Twilight was getting nervous so she picked up her stuff and galloped on home.

Once she got back home she entered the castle and closed it before locking the door.

Naturally Twilight would assume she was about to get mugged or he was just some weirdo, Ponyville has those.

But something made her think otherwise.

When he touched her hoof… something about it…

Was familiar to her…?

“That’s…enough shopping today…” Twilight stuttered and trotted into the kitchen, ready to force this strange encounter out of her head.

Celestia entered the balcony with her sister by he side and they began their daily ritual, Celestia lowering the sun and Luna raising the moon for the coming night.

“Another day goes by, sister,” Luna said with a smile.

“Indeed, it will be time to scour the dream realm soon,” Celestia replied.

As the two stood there admiring the sights of Canterlot, Luna got a troubled look on her face.

“What is it, Luna?” Celestia asked

“It is nothing sister,” Luna said trotting away but her sister stopped her.

“I know that expression, Luna. There is something on your mind.” Celestia beckoned Luna back to the balcony.

“Well…. It is just… we have concerns regarding Twilight's recent ascension,” Luna said.

“What about it?” Celestia asked.

“Are you sure she is ready?” Luna asked.

“Of course. Twilight has proven ready for a long time,” Celestia said.

“But surely she must eventually know the truth about alicorns and her future position in this world, when will she be ready?” Luna asked

“...I don’t know,” Celestia said honestly.

“That is concerning,” Luna said.

“She will be ready to hear the truth from us when she is ready. That is beyond our control,” Celestia said.

“Beyond?” Luna looked like there was more on her mind, but she shrugged it off and strode away.

Celestia called after her, “Do have a goodnight, sister. The future is still far away. We’ll worry about it when the time comes.”

Luna nodded and left the room, leaving only Celestia on the balcony, looking up at the night sky.

“Mother. Father. You left too early, but don’t worry. We will join you soon enough.”

Author's Note

Some important lore is added here.

Well, with that lets start gathering ideas and see what kind of story we can build!

Till then.