The book doesn't look like much. It's ancient, but the craft is simple, hoof-made. The ink is faded to near-illegibility. There is nothing on the cover, save the name of its one-time owner.

Twilight almost passes it by. Next to ancient, massive tomes with impressive gold leaf and jewel studded covers on the shelves of the deepest section of the Canterlot archives, it is so unassuming. But on a whim, she opens it. Inside, Twilight is surprised to discover, is one of the most complete records of the life of Starswirl the Bearded, her personal hero. It is recorded in his own words, by a pegasus who has been forgotten to history, save for this humble, remarkable record.

This is Twilight's transposition of the contents.

This story is a sequel to Observations and Motivations

When a secret message was discovered inside Starswirl's journal, Twilight Sparkle spends several years trying to uncover it's cryptic secrets, including just how and why the deceased conjurer of old has managed to leave a message just for her. The things she learns on her journey will bring her to question everything she knows, and the events that are thrust upon the unicorn might very well be the end of her and everything she holds dear.

This is the third story in the Observations Universe!

Finished in Motivations: Relics of Antiquity!

Twilight Sparkle was headed to the Canterlot Historical Revisionists Convention, when a lightning bolt struck her Starswirl the Bearded costume. Forced to find a quick replacement, she spots a pony selling costumes. The sign adorning their booth proclaims "100% Curse-Free Top Quality Costumes!" The pony is even wearing a dark cloak and ominous hood: surely they are a costuming enthusiast.

Normally, Twilight wouldn't buy any merchandise from a shady vendor, but there's no way she's going to show up to the Canterlot Historical Revisionists Convention without a good costume. The historical revision enthusiasts would eat her alive in every debate she attempted!

Surely the merchant is obeying Equestrian truth-in-advertising laws.

Twilight wants to know what happened to Starswirl the Bearded, but nopony who knows will speak. How many wounds is Twilight ready to reopen to get her answer?

In a string of theories, I concurred this one while working late at night. I don't intend to make it extremely detailed, but more-so as a way to explain some things about a couple of the most mysterious ponies ever mentioned.

Thanks to the following for finding errors:
Starlight Nova

EDIT: As I'm sure some of you have read the comics- namely the 'Fiendship Is Magic' series- you know that the story behind Sombra is different. I had written this beforehand and will just leave it up for others to read.

Twilight Sparkle has always been meant for something great ever since cracking the secret to Starswirl the Bearded's spell. Now it is the time to figure out and see what her destiny truly is.

Author's Note: Inspired by this song. I also recommend you listen to it while reading.

Submission to EQD: Failed. [Gosh there was a lot of errors that I did not even know could be errors]

This story is a sequel to Renaissance Pony

Twilight has always dreamed of meeting her hero, Starswirl the Bearded. She finally gets her wish fulfilled on a mysterious deserted world. Together they investigate how they got there, where the world's inhabitants went, and why amongst all ponies, they two were brought to this desolate place. To Twilight's consternation, the more they learn, the sadder Starswirl becomes, until finally she is faced with a devastating choice that would have her betray her mentor, her friends, and even her innermost convictions.

Artwork by Nevina, based on a prior drawing by TotallyNotaBrony (Note: you don't need to have read Renaissance Pony before reading this story.)

After Twilight and her friends rediscover Starswirl’s last spell in the ruins of Golden Oaks Library Rainbow Dash asks, ‘why can’t we all become alicorns?’ Now Ponyville is host to five brand new alicorns and the girls have everything they could ever want; magic, flight, power, influence and all of Equestria wide-open before them... but being a Princess is far more than just having wings and a horn.

With thanks to Luna-tic Scientist, Lord of Dorkness, docontra, and JCatt for their help pre-reading. Cover image by Pixel-Prism.

to whomever may find this,
Throughout my studies, I have gathered skills in the feilds of astronomy, space and matter, and even the workings of the universe. However, there is one concept I have et to conquer: time. I leave this spell in the hopes that someday one unicorn may recite these words and therefore allow me to view the future I have participated in creating.
-Starswirl

Twilight Sparkle accomplished something incredible, something not even the great Starswirl could manage. But ascension into the ranks of Equestria's princesses is not without its difficulties. Before she can take her place as princess of Friendship, Twilight must travel to the underworld and make a ceremonial offering to Death in exchange for her immortality. Twilight is more than a little surprised to discover the identity of the pony under the hood.

After years living in Ponyville and getting to know her friends, Twilight always assumed they were exactly what they seemed: a group of friendly and ambitious ponies. But as it turns out, the sort of pony who saves Equestria and decodes the ancient mysteries of Starswirl is likely to attract ponies a tad more interesting.

Updates on the 3rd or 4th Friday of every month, then daily until that section is complete.

Editing by Two Bit and Sparktail. Cover by Zutcha.

After the Friendship Games, Sunset feels it's time to return home.

Only when she gets there, Twilight's castle is nowhere to be found, Cadance just got her horn, and Princess Celestia is still calling the bacon-haired pony her prized student rather than a failed one. And just reliving her past isn't on the table thanks to a pair of wings Sunset seems to have sprouted upon her return to Equestria.

With Sunset being back before she's supposed to, will the world stay as harmonious and on track, or will everything go down in flames as Sunset has to deal with allegations that she's really a changeling in disguise, a nerdy stallion with blue hair that wants to be her coltfriend, a pretty pink princess in need of remedial magic lessons, and an annoying purple pre-teen pony that will absolutely not go to bed without first being read Starswirl's Complete Mystical Mysteries Compendium?

Only time will tell