You lean in close; luckily nopony is sitting near enough to overhear your conversation. “Alright, I’ll tell you. But you have to promise that this never leaves the table...”

A few minutes later, you’ve finished describing your encounter with Danneltuft and what little you know about the upcoming convocation, Twilight listening with rapt attention all the while. “A Bhrùnaidh-mòd!” she breaths, “I’ve read about them, but they’re strictly a matter of rumor and hearsay. Carrot Top, you have to tell me all about it when you get back!”

You nod reluctantly. “Alright, I will. But this can’t go any farther than your ears, alright? You can’t even tell your friends.”

“Not even Spike?”

“Especially not Spike!”

Twilight sighs. “Alright, alright. You have my word.”

You stand up. “Thanks for listening,” you say. “I’ll feel better knowing that somepony knows where I am.”

“No problem. If you aren’t back by tomorrow morning, I’ll know something’s wrong and get a group together to come find you. But don’t worry,” she hastily adds, “I won’t say why. Exactly. I mean, I’ll be discreet.”

You smile at Twilight. “I know you will be. But just for my sake, why don’t you brush up your alibi this afternoon? You aren’t much of a liar.”

Twilight laughs. “I’ll take that as a compliment. You’d better get going, though.”

She’s right, of course; you’ve already spent longer getting lunch than you planned. Hurrying out of the deli, you set off for the Everfree Forest.

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