//------------------------------// // Prologue - A Letter // Story: Quantum Starlight // by Rambling Writer //------------------------------// Starlight, This sounds a lot worse than I mean it to be, but the Crystal Empire almost getting taken over by eternal winter was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Okay, a little more context. I’d been in a bit of a rut when you met me, to be honest. You probably saw how disorganized everything was at my place. Nothing was just really clicking for me. You coming back and accepting me again was the first good thing that happened, and then Flurry Heart’s crystalling was the second good thing, and now I’m up and about again. Being Flurry Heart’s crystaller has kept me busier than usual, but it’s mostly just helping Cadance and Shining Armor do all the usual baby stuff for her, nothing with magic yet. Still, it’s better than nothing. Then imagine my surprise when some university bigwig shows up at the Crystal Palace, politely inquiring if I’d be willing to help on a certain theoretical physics experiment called Project Promenade (can’t tell you what it’s about, sorry, NDAs). See, the crystal ponies talked about the crystalling and the renewal of the Crystal Heart to their friends, and that slowly filtered through the grapevine until it reached Serene, director of physics at one Streamhaven University. She put two and two together, made some accurate guesses, and figured out that I’m rather skilled at magical theory. The school was working on a project that could use my expertise and she stopped by just to confirm her suspicions. She talked with Cadance a bit, and, well… Long story short, having LITERALLY EVERY PRINCESS IN EQUESTRIA be able to vouch for your understanding in magic is kind of a Big Deal. After a little bit of discussion with Serene, Cadance and Shining both agreed that my duties as crystaller weren’t too terribly important just yet, and, given the implications of Promenade (which I REALLY want to tell you about but can’t, stupid NDAs), the study I would undertake was incredibly important. They let me go for a few months so I could work on Promenade. So now I’m over in a city called Streamhaven. Not too far from Ponyville, actually. Could do with a bit of cleanup, but I spend most of my time at the college anyway, so that doesn’t matter much. Promenade’s been going great, and we’re about to enter the final stages. But I was thinking: would you like to come and see the moment of truth? I’ve talked with Serene, and so long as you also sign an NDA, you’re welcome to. Not that it’ll matter much, because we’ll be going public less than a week later. But from what you’ve told me of your history, you’ll probably want to see it. The final run’s a week from Sunday. If you want to come and see it, get a letter to me several days in advance so we can set up transportation. Don’t worry about paying for it; I’ve got plenty of money. Also, don’t feel you have to come, I completely understand if you don’t want to see it; I’ve been incredibly vague about what Promenade’s about (not my choice), so you might not want to go out on a limb for some theoretical physics experiment that might not be all that exciting. But trust me on this. YOU WILL LOVE IT. Sunburst Twilight frowned when Starlight showed her the letter. “Project Promenade,” she muttered. “Sounds kind of familiar, but I can’t put my hoof on it. And I wonder what walking’s got to do with theoretical physics…” As Twilight was rambling about ambling, Starlight read the letter over again. Sunburst had sent letters before, but not one so focused on a specific detail. He must’ve been feeling it. And she’d only seen him once or twice since their reunion, so the idea of seeing him again was… pleasing, if she was being honest with herself, but she had her own duties to attend to. Twilight was many things, but a light teacher was not one of them. Starlight wasn’t overloaded with work and friendship lessons, but it’d be tricky to spare a few days to jaunt over to some out-of-the-way town for some experiment that she didn’t even know what it did. Still, experiment or not, if she was able to go, she’d see Sunburst. That alone made the trip a plus. Twilight kept chattering to herself until Starlight cleared her throat. “Hey. Talking about walking is over. Do you know what next week’s going to be like?” “Actually,” Twilight said with a grin, “the timing on this is just perfect. I’ve got a summit in Griffonstone to attend — their spreading of friendship is going amazingly — and it just so happens to be right on the dates he was talking about. There wouldn’t be much there for you to learn, not after our last visit, so I wasn’t planning on taking you. But if you want to take a break from your studies for a few days to go visit him, that’d be just fine, since I wouldn’t be around anyway.” Starlight’s ears went up. “Really? That’s great! Thank you!” “Sure. Besides, you need to apply what you’ve learned about friendship a bit more, so this could be a chance for that. Most of what you’ve learned, you’ve only applied among the other five Elements, and you need to get out more.” Twilight giggled. “And when I say you need to get out more, you need to get out more.” “…Okay then.” Starlight looked back down at the letter so Twilight couldn’t see the red creeping into her cheeks. As she looked over the letter again, one sentence jumped out at her. “What do you think he means by from what I’ve told him about about my history?” “I’m not sure,” Twilight said with a frown. “What’ve you told him?” “Pretty much everything. Including the unimportant parts.” “So it could be anything.” Twilight shrugged. “Well, I guess you’ll find out when you get the- Wait. You and him have been writing letters back and forth?” “Yes.” “You’ve been keeping the letters from him, right? For archival purposes?” “Yes.” “And copying them?” “Yes.” Starlight started gritting her teeth. “In triplicate?” “Yes.” “And you’ve been copying your letters to him, right?” “Yes.” “In triplicate?” “Yes.” If Starlight pressed her teeth together any more, they’d probably shatter. “Good,” Twilight said, nodding. “Good. We’ll need to file those sometime soon. I wonder i-” “I’m going to reply,” Starlight said gruffly. “Oh! Right. Sorry,” said Twilight. “Writing implements are right over there.” She waved a hoof at a nearby drawer. “Now, where did I put that…” She frowned and left the room. Starlight rolled her eyes as she pulled parchment, quill, and inkwell from the drawer. Twilight’s train of thought did not like staying put on one track, which could make good conversation, but meant trying to talk about one thing was a pain if she wasn’t dedicated to that topic. Starlight put quill to parchment and started writi- “And don’t forget to copy this one!” Twilight called out. “I know!” Starlight sighed and started wri- “In triplicate!” “I know!” Starlight gritted her teeth and started writing.