//------------------------------//
// Twilight Sparkle 
// Story: Obligations 
// by ArgonMatrix 
//------------------------------//

	Miss Sparkle,

This message is in regards to the research paper we received from you approximately three months ago entitled “Dreamscape Spell Thesis”.
Our board of directors is very intrigued with your proposed spell and rather impressed by the thoroughly detailed research you provided. No prominent flaws have been identified in your findings, thus no revision of your thesis is required. As such, we are pleased to inform you that your spell has been preliminarily approved for publication.
The final step required before an official publication can be authorized is a full demonstration of the spell in practice. Being the creator of this spell, you are by far the most capable unicorn for the demonstration. As such, your presence is requested at the university at your earliest convenience. We look forward to your visit.

Sincerely, Professor Brittlebeard, Chair of Magical Studies
Department of Magical Studies, Canterlot University

Twilight reread the letter an uncountable number of times, her adrenaline increasing with every pass. “This is unreal,” she thought to herself. “My very own spell is going to become immortalized in a real, actual book! Mine! My spell that I created! Me! Twilight Sparkle! My name will be on the line under the spell next to the word “Creator”! I hope they don’t misspell my name. What if they accidentally spell it Twilight Spackle? Who in the hoof would have the last name Spackle?! No no, they’ll get it right... I’ll make sure of it.”

The Sun was just peeking over the eastern horizon, casting dawn shadows across the train platform. Twilight was adamant about getting to Canterlot as soon as possible. One of her lifelong dreams was about to be realized, and she wasn’t about to waste any more time than she had to, so she had left for the station as soon as she had read the last word of the letter. She hadn’t even bothered telling anypony where she was going—not that many ponies were awake at this hour anyway—and just hoped that the note she had left for Spike would be enough to ease his nerves when he woke up alone.

A bright pastel locomotive trudged to a stop on the train tracks next to her. Five ponies groggily stumbled out of the cars to make way for the three ponies who planned to board. Twilight bounded gleefully for the nearest open door and quickly found a seat right near the same door. Fidgeting helplessly in place, the giddy mare cast a sidelong gaze out the window to a slowly waking Ponyville. Her beaming expression widened.

“I can’t wait to see the looks on my friends’ faces when I tell them about all this. This is going to be the best day ever!” 

The final doors closed and the train slowly groaned to life, lurching in the direction of Equestria’s capital. One unicorn on board was leaving a librarian, and returning a published spell-founder.