//------------------------------//
// Chapter Twelve 
// Story: A Journey Unthought Of 
// by Hustlin Tom 
//------------------------------//

I was starting to get antsy.  I’d spent so many days cooped up in Bon Bon and Lyra’s cottage, and I just needed to get out!  But because of the new level of watchfulness in Ponyville, I couldn’t take two steps outside without being spotted.  Lyra went to Twilight Sparkle’s library for some advice, and Bon Bon and I were left to our own devices.  

Lyra had just stepped into the library when she saw Twilight finishing up reading a lengthy letter.  “Hi Twilight!  Whatcha reading?”  

Twilight set the parchment down and looked over to her guest.  “Oh hello Lyra!  I was just reading this letter from Princess Celestia about," here she lowered her voice “our mutual alien friend”.  

Lyra’s eyes brightened with recognition.  “Ohhhhh.  What did she have to say?”  

“Well, you see, Fluttershy first came to me about your ‘exotic pet’ a couple days ago, and I had sent a letter asking for access to the Royal Archive.  Because at the time we only had a physical description, we couldn’t look specifically for what he was.”  She paused.  

Lyra looked at her in anticipation.  “Yes?  What did you find?”  

“Well, his story about being from another world is probably true; there isn’t a single book that can document a species that walks upright on two legs that is also capable of reason, apart from minotaurs anyway.  Of course, the library only contains about 700 years of history from all over Equestria.  Maybe if we looked in less public libraries there could be even older stuff; books that may be even older then the beginning of Princess Celestia’s monarchal rule.”  

Both looked down at the letter Twilight had been reading, each puzzling over the information.  

“Hey Twilight?”  

“Hmm?”  

“Adam has mentioned that our holidays are a lot like his.  From where he’s from, they have a Nightmare Night too, along with the same number of seasons, a Heartwarming’s Eve, and a Winter Wrap-up.”  

This tickled Twilight’s curiosity.  She arched one of her brows.  “Really?  That’s sounds..pretty farfetched if you ask me.”  

“Doesn’t an alien from another dimension landing in your backyard also sound pretty farfetched?”  

“Hm.  Good point.”  

“He’s also mentioned that a lot of our cities are a play on words of some his cities," Lyra continued on. 

“Which ones?”  

"They have a Fillydelphia there, but it’s pronounced Philadelphia.”  

“That sounds like nonsense,” Twilight gave a little chuckle.  

“He said it means “Brotherly Love” in some Earth language.  Also, they have a city called Manhattan, not Manehattan.”  

This got Twilight Sparkle thinking.  She started to unconsciously rub her chin.  “What could it mean?”  

“Um, Twilight?”  

Twilight was stirred out of her concentration to look at Lyra, “Yes?”  

“I need your help.  Well, actually, Adam does.  See, he needs to be able to get out of the house, but he can’t because of the new neighborhood watch.”  

Twilight’s eyes brightened, “Oh right!  I’d heard about the news too!  But, I had an idea, so I’ve got something that I got for you to try for him!”  She cantered up to her room upstairs.  She wasn’t gone long, and she quickly returned with a folded up cloth.  “Here, take a look!”  

It was a large, gray fleece blanket, and it was large by pony standards.  

“Your idea for Adam to get around town is to have him hide under a blanket like a two month old foal?”  

Twilight grinned.  “Close, but I want him to get around Ponyville by hiding under a blanket that is magically invisible!”  She stepped under the blanket, and as the last of her tail disappeared under it, she and the blanket disappeared entirely.  

Lyra eyes grew with wonder and excitement.  

“Pretty cool, huh?”  Twilight called out from Lyra’s left.  Lyra whirled around and saw nothing.  

“Oh, I am so gonna pull shenanigans on Bon Bon with this!”  

Twilight laughed and stepped out from under the blanket.  “It will work perfectly so long as you occasionally recharge the magic in it, otherwise, the invisibility will fade.”

Lyra started jumping up and down with joy.  “This’ll be great!  Thanks for all your help Twilight!”  She grabbed up the cloak and rushed out the door.  

Twilight gave a last little chuckle.  “That’s what friends are for!”