//------------------------------// // Preparations // Story: Mort Takes a Holiday // by AnonymousMaterials //------------------------------// The pony shade and sun princess strode down the halls, the marble floor covered in a royal red carpet that silenced Celestia's hooves. Mort, meanwhile, floated beside her, letting the princess lead. Guards roamed the floors and stood at key rooms, and whenever Mort detected them being close by, he would fade from the physical world until the coast was clear. While the guards they passed would remain stoic, Mort could feel the slight confusion radiating off of them as Celestia passed. A fair bit of anxiety was gnawing away at Mort as they walked along. It had been bad enough for Thanasia to leave like she had; in spite of what the ashen alicorn had said, he was pretty certain she was not at all okay with his choice. He was aware that he had often confused, sometimes even disappointed, his creator, but he didn't think she felt either of those things tonight. He was very afraid she was now actually angry with him this time. Now to make things worse, Luna was obviously upset about what happened at Hoovestock. He should have realized why Spinal Clop's music had sounded so familiar: Luna liked to have it playing in her room when he visited. Red Shrimp's squishy end wasn't his fault, of course. To say otherwise would be like blaming a janitor for a pony spilling his drink. (Though admittedly, Mort didn't find the comparison all that flattering, to him or to the departed.) Still, Luna had been kinda moody, and had come close to shutting down a holiday over a simple misunderstanding. He had no idea how she would react to a pony's death so soon after coming back, especially one she may have admired. “Do you think she's mad at me?” he asked quietly, as the previous guard they passed turned a corner. Celestia looked down at him, her brow arched curiously. “Which one?” There were times he believed that Celestia could read minds. “Er...both.” Celestia smiled calmly, and Mort found that it drained away some of his fears. “Luna won't be mad. While I'm sure she'll be upset about what happened, she will not take her grief out on you. If anything, I feel it may even do her a little good to see you.” He nodded along, his emotional status going down from “fearful” to “cautiously optimistic.” “What about Thanasia?” he asked. It was subtle, but he saw how Celestia's smile faltered just slightly. “I'm sure Thanasia's just worried about you, Mort,” she said, her tone having a tinge of uncertainty, as it always was with his creator. “She still remembers what you went through all those centuries ago, and doesn't want it to happen again...” Mort knew what she was talking about. A thousand years ago he was still relatively new to the idea of thought and emotion. While he was very acquainted with the happier feelings he had when in the princess' presence, he had never actually become associated with the more dour ones, such as “loss” or “pain” before. Not until the night that Nightmare Moon had been banished. The legend went that the stars would aid in her escape after a thousand years. Unfortunately, no one knew this until a couple centuries later. So, at the time, he and Celestia had believed that Luna was, for all intents and purposes, gone. Forever. Neither of them took it very well. While ponies could not see him, they could certainly feel him, and it was no coincidence that so many pictures of him back then had portrayed him as a grim and terrifying figure. While the particulars were always a little different, the despair and pain in each picture was right on the mark. It was practically all he felt back then. Perhaps he had appeared more somber than he realized, because Celestia brushed a wing across his form, and he could feel the warm, radiant life that existed in each of those feathers, each one boosting his spirits and making sparks fly within his being. Almost as if she were raising a sun from within. “You have nothing to worry about,” she said. “That was a very long time ago, and you've grown much since then. You know how to handle those feelings now.” She giggled. “Besides, you're going to be spending a few days with some of the most wonderful ponies in Equestria. You won't have anything less than a smile, I'm sure of it.” Again, Mort felt his spirits lifted. Celestia seemed very good at lifting things in general. There was more to her cutie mark than just the sun itself. They were, at this point, passing a number of paintings and sculptures that had adorned the walls. All considered masterpieces, all created centuries ago, many considered only “good” or “mediocre” in their time, and more than a few done by artists who had, ultimately, killed themselves. He was always wary when he came for an artist, since the few depressing ones were unbelievably depressing. He heard the sound of hooves coming his way, from a hall to their right. In an instant he vanished, waiting patiently for the next set of guards to move on. As they approached, he began to hear their voices, the pair in the middle of a conversation. “...and if you're lucky, you might see him during a full moon, patrolling the halls like he did centuries ago,” one said, his voice gruff and ripe with age. “Only now he's traded in his armor for black robes, and has a face paler than Celestia's fla—” “Hey, can you cut that out?” the other asked, sounding relatively young, his voice wavering slightly. A new recruit, if Mort had to guess. “Bad enough you believe in some ghost stories, but do you really gotta say it like that?” There was a sound of armor jangling. “First off, lighten up a little. Second, those aren't 'stories.' I've seen him. The others have seen him, and you'll probably see him too. He appears and disappears at random, walks through walls, and does all sorts of other weird shi—” Celestia cleared her throat. “Princess!” The two guards that had rounded the corner (a white pegasus Mort recognized from earlier, and a younger brown unicorn) suddenly found themselves greeted by Celestia, who smiled cordially at them. The pair of them quickly bowed, their armor clamoring loudly as they did. “M-my apologies, I didn't see you there!” the pegasus said quickly, as if his life depended on it. Celestia shook her head. “No need to apologize, good sir. I'm just on my way to see my sister. Proceed with your duties. Though, do try not to scare the recruits, please.” “Of course,” he answered, a bead of sweat rolling between his eyes. The pair of them stood up, giving a stiff nod before they walked around her, and down the hall she came from, deliberately keeping their eyes forward. Celestia waited a few moments, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Also,” she said, looking back at them, “I prefer 'snow white' or 'alabaster.' 'Pale' just sounds unhealthy.” The pair of guards froze in place. Mort heard a snicker from the younger unicorn, causing the pegasus to rap him on the helmet before storming off. The unicorn was not far behind, muttering obscenities as he straightened his helmet. Mort waited until they had turned another corner before reappearing. “Well, he was...colorful.” Celestia shrugged. “Oh, he can have his fun. If I wanted emotionless guards, I would've invested in golems.” She glanced down at him, grinning. “Did you hear that 'story' they were talking about?” “Oh yeah,” he said with a snicker. “Pretty silly, huh?” Celestia cocked her head at him, looking puzzled. “What do you mean?” “Oh, you know, ghosts,” he said, rolling his eyes. “This castle hasn't been the least bit haunted for the past five-hundred years or so.” That pony hadn't even been a guard. It was a servant who had insisted on staying out the rest of his contract, even if he couldn't actually do anything. A dedicated pony, but certainly not pale or dressed in black. “Really,” he said, with a dismissive wave of his hoof, “you go around spreading stories like that, and then you got everypony seeing it!” Celestia's puzzled expression remained a moment longer, before breaking into a smile. “Well, you would be the expert on that.” “Of course,” he said, with a degree of self-satisfaction. As they got closer to a hall he knew very well, he became intangible again. The two of them turned down the corridor to see a pair of giant, oak doors. And as he suspected, they were flanked by two guards, pegasi who wore dark, indigo armor in contrast to the gold armor of Celestia's personal retinue. Celestia stopped only a few feet from the door, and both guards bowed respectfully in her presence. “Has Princess Luna left her room yet?” Celestia asked them. “No, your majesty,” one of them intoned. “She is still in a state of grieving.” Mort flinched, feeling his spirits drop considerably. “Alright, then. Could you two leave for a moment? I need a little private time with my sister.” The guards simply nodded, and trotted away from the door, soon disappearing from sight. Mort watched them go, then turned back towards the doors, looking more ominous with each passing moment. He waited. And waited. As the seconds ticked by he looked at Celestia, his head tilted in a questioning manner. Celestia stood stock still, waiting patiently, making it clear she wasn't going to go first. He sighed, not at all surprised. He turned tangible, and with an audible gulp he lifted a hoof up, but hesitated before knocking. What was she going to say? What was he going to say? He was relatively casual about it in the past, no matter what the circumstances, but that certainly wouldn't be right anymore. Looking at the door, he felt a strong temptation to “know” what was going on. It wouldn't be that hard. Shades were data sponges, after all, and were constantly gathering every possible bit of information around them. Physical and even magical barriers meant nothing. Even if he was cut off from Thanasia, that didn't mean his body had stopped collecting data. If he concentrated, he could just try to gleam the basics without having to dive in completely. See where Luna was in the room, what she was doing, check her blood pressure, see how her hormones were to get an idea of how upset she was, maybe find an errant thought or two... He resisted that urge, and felt ashamed for even thinking about it. Luna was his friend. She never tried to pry information out of him about possible pony deaths, so he shouldn't pry for her personal thoughts either. He looked nervously at Celestia, hoping she would give some much needed advice, but instead the alicorn only smiled encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door three times. “L-Luna?” he started, his voice wavering. “It's, uh, m-me. Mort. Are you, uh...” He went to knock on the door again, but this time the door creaked open, just wide enough for a pony (or in this case, a pony shade) to squeeze through. He looked questioningly at Celestia, who motioned for him to go in. Knowing that she wouldn't be convinced to go in first, he shuffled through the doors into the room. Stepping into the room was almost like stepping a thousand years into the past. Very little had changed about Luna's room in the years that she had been gone, much of it owing to Celestia who had gone to great lengths to preserve it. There was polished furniture that had gone out of style centuries ago, its carpenters long gone in the tide of history. Not just the furniture, but also the fireplace, the vases, the bed sheets, even the wallpaper. Combs, brushes, perfume bottles, books, and even the stuffed animals...everything had been the recipient of meticulous care and restoration. It was incredibly nostalgic, and though Mort would never admit it aloud, also somewhat eerie. He scanned the room, taking everything in, until his eyes fell on a figure by the window. Luna's back was turned to him, the princess staring out an open window towards the plains and valleys that her room overlooked. She was hunched over, her mane and tail swirling around her like star-speckled waves. He swore he saw the streak of a tiny comet appear in her tail, vanish, than reappear in her mane. His cleared his throat, and whispered, “Luna?” The princess snapped her head around, her eyes seeming to glow white in the darkness. In an instant she charged at him, and the shade braced himself for whatever came next. He was expecting to be tackled, zapped, or yelled at. He did not expect to be hugged. “Oh, Mort!” she said, squeezing him so hard his head almost popped off, “We are—t-that is, I am so glad thou art here!” She let go, giving the shade a moment to collect himself. “Y-you are?” he asked, using a free hoof to realign his skull. To the side, he saw Celestia come in and sit on the floor, watching them in silent amusement. Luna blinked, startled at the question. “Of course,” she said, “after the events that have transpired tonight, I've been considerably distressed! Red Shrimp, the melodious drummer of the troupe 'Spinal Clop,' has met a grizzly end underneath a titanic skull! Couldst thou believe it?!” Mort stared at her. “Yes,” he deadpanned. “Oh.” Her cheeks turned a rosy color. “Y-yes, of course, thou would be very knowledgeable about it. Which is why I have been dearly wanting to speak with thee...” Mort gulped. This was it. “L-look,” he started, “I'm really sorry about—” “He did not suffer, did he?” she asked. “His end...it was quick, was it not? With little pain?” This time, he was startled. It took him a moment to form an answer. “Oh, uh, I would say no pain,” he said, casually. “I mean, the first thing that skull did was sever his...uh...” His eyes caught Celestia, who gave a frantic shake of her head while making a zipping motion with her hooves. Luna's eyes had also widened in a manner that prelude terror. “Um, he didn't feel a thing,” he finished quickly. Luna sighed, sounding both sad and relieved. “Well, there is that, at least,” she said, quietly. “How was he when thou met him?” she asked, looking troubled. “Was he upset?” “Um, well, sorta,” he responded. “I-I mean, you would be too if your career got cut short by your own prop.” “I suppose so. Did he find peace in the end?” “O-oh yeah, of course!” he said, with a quick nod. “He was definitely content with everything when it was...y'know, time...” “Did he say anything in particular?” she asked, curious. “Ah, not really,” he said, scratching the back of his hood. “I mean, he had more questions than usual, but most ponies follow the three 'ohs.' 'Oh, I'm dead,' 'oh no, I'm dead,' and 'oh well, I'm dead.' Realization, angst, and acceptance, basically. Oh!” “There is a fourth?” “No, I just remembered something! Uh, wait, where is...” Mort's horn glowed, and from within his hood the autograph floated out, where it unfurled in front of Luna. “Um, before he left, I was able to get an autograph from him, and...y'know, I have a bunch of these already, so if you really want...?” Luna's eyes scanned over the document. She gaped at him, looking stunned. “R-really? Are thou sure? He did address it to thee, and I always thought such things were...” “Oh, no, it's okay,” he said, waving a hoof dismissively. “I've got plenty of mementos. One less isn't going to bother me, and I'm sure you'd take great care of it.” She looked between him and the paper, appearing hesitant. He nodded encouragingly, floating the autograph closer to her. With an eager smile, her horn glowed gently, enveloping the autograph in a velvet blue glow. Mort released his hold just as she took it. “I thank thee, Mort,” she said, and trotted towards her desk. It was stacked high with books, documents, and an abacus that looked ancient enough to belong in a museum. The wall it sat in front of had a bulletin board crowded with pictures of her after her return, letters addressed to her, and a few photos of the various bands she had taken a shine to. She used a tack to stick the autograph beneath them, and sat back to admire it. “So...you're not angry?” he asked, hesitantly. She turned around, confused. “Angry? About what?” “Er, y'know, Red Shrimp...dying and everything,” he said, looking away. Luna stared at him a moment, arching an eyebrow in puzzlement. A moment passed before she gasped, sounding almost scandalized. “Mort, thou doesn't truly believe I hold ill will towards thee?” He shrugged. “I-it was just that you haven't been back long, and you really seemed to like this guy, and I just kinda thought that having this happen so soon would be...um...” He scratched at the floor, keeping his eyes directed at the floor. Luna sighed sympathetically. “Mort, please calm thyself! I am not the least bit angry with thee.” He perked up. “Really?” he asked. “Of course not!” she said, giving him a reassuring smile. “True, the events of tonight did upset me, but I know thou never has any part in what happens. I understood quite well all those years ago, if thee recalls.” “Um, well, uh, heh, heh...” He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, remembering that Luna never gave him grief over some pony's death, or at least never after they became friends. He hadn't forgotten, so much that he was afraid of setting himself up for an even bigger falling out. “Y-yeah, you're right. Sorry I doubted you...” “Thou art forgiven!” she said, nuzzling him. Mort felt himself relax as a feeling of serenity swirled through him, bathing him gently like moonlight. He murmured softly, realizing how little he got to feel something like this. Suddenly, those feelings came to a halt as Luna tore herself away, looking guilty. “Oh, don't tell me thou hast come this way just to comfort me? What of thy duties? I am not making thee late, am I?” “Oh, uh, I'm not going to be late for a while,” he said. “Maybe even for a long while...” “Pardon?” “What Mort's trying to say is that seeing you is only part of why he's here,” Celestia said, speaking for the first time since they arrived. She walked over, sitting down almost between them. Celestia then proceeded to explain to the younger sister about the night's events. Knowing that Celestia tended to explain things better than he did, Mort got up and walked towards the window. Peering through the glass, his eyes focused on a small town, just barely visible from where he was. Down there, he surmised, there was a lavender unicorn who was probably studying some ancient text or how-to guide on social activities. He knew of Twilight Sparkle years before she went to Ponyville, of course. He had seen her whenever he had visited Celestia, the student either with her head between the pages of some large book, or attempting some magic spell. (There was also that one time the filly had, unknowingly, concocted nitroglycerin in a lab experiment. He didn't believe he would ever tell Celestia about that.) It was fascinating watching her grow from that little filly into the magical expert she was today, and it didn't escape his notice how happy Celestia was every time she was with her. It was one of the reasons why he insisted on reading Twilight Sparkle's reports when he found out about them. He was eager to see what the young mare had been doing ever since she saved Luna, and hoping that she was doing well in her new home. He was pleased to find that not only was she doing well, she was opening up to others and making plenty of friends. He knew all of Twilight's friends, too, though less than he liked, and through ways he didn't prefer. With the potential exception of Fluttershy and Applejack, who both seemed vaguely familiar (which was rarely a good sign), he hadn't seen any of the others before the night Nightmare Moon returned. Afterward, however, he had seen plenty more of them through a surprising number of near-death experiences. They seemed nice and interesting enough, though admittedly he didn't have very much to go on. They were running or screaming most of the times he saw them. Now he was finally going to get a chance to know them. To know the heroes who saved his friend from her nightmare, and helped bring peace to Equestria over and over again. They would go around the town, the eyes of dozens, maybe hundreds, upon them, as he talked to them about...as they did...as he... “Oh no.” In an instant, Mort became aware that the earlier Excitement he felt had just been evicted, and in its place moved in Dread and Mind-Numbing Terror. The new tenants began to unpack, and did not seem to be in a hurry to move out anytime soon. Mort was shaken from his awful realization at the sound of Luna gasping. He turned to see the moon princess staring at her sister with complete shock. “Thou speak truthfully?” she asked. “Thanasia hast agreed to Mort's 'time off,' and to spend his days with Twilight Sparkle and her companions?” Celestia grinned. “Verily,” she said. Luna gasped again, and clopped her hooves excitedly. She looked at him, her face absolutely beaming. “Oh, thou art fortuitous, Mort! Twilight and her friends are exceptional at creating 'fun!' And thou will have so much time with them, as well! Thou must be excited!” She gazed at him expectantly, smiling from ear to ear. She was really happy. “Y-yeah, excited,” he said, hoping that didn't sound as halfhearted as he thought. Luna smile dissolved. Behind her, Celestia was giving him a bewildered look. His attention was caught again by Luna, who had positioned herself directly in front of him, staring straight into his eyes. Mort couldn't help but squirm a little under that gaze. She cocked an eyebrow. “Are thou excited?” she asked slowly. Mort gulped, his knees wobbly. “O-of course I am...” he muttered weakly, feeling smaller and smaller as Luna continued to stare at him. Her eyes widened and narrowed, and she tilted her head from one side to the other, scrutinizing him. The longer she did it, the more exposed he felt. Even Thanasia might learn a thing or two from her. She suddenly gasped. “Thou art lying!” she exclaimed scandalously, pointing at him with an accusatory hoof. He tried to muster a protest, fumbling over his words, but eventually he could only settle for a defeated sigh. “You got me,” he muttered miserably. Celestia stared at him, looking surprised and, to his discomfort, hurt. “I don't understand, Mort. You seemed fine with it just a little while ago...” “I-I know, but...” He sighed again. That's how the night was starting to feel, like one, big sigh. “I'm sorry, but it just occurred to me that...I've never mingled with other ponies like that before! And I mean actually mingle, not move around while invisible, intangible, inaudible and in...uh, ineverything, I guess. Dead ponies are one thing, but living ones? I wouldn't know what to do, or even talk about! This,” he said, tapping at his horn, “is practically all I do know!” “Thou art being too critical of thyself,” Luna said, reassuringly. “Lest ye forget, we have gotten along very well with thee.” “Yeah, and it took me a really long time to get that far,” he reminded her. “You thought I was the Boogey Mare for a while.” “That's not fair! I was barely a filly, and thou lurked in the shadows for the longest time,” she said, disgruntled. “Luna has a point,” Celestia said with a warm smile. “When you started out, you didn't know very much about being with us, but since then you've really grown. You may have to adapt a little, but being with them shouldn't be that much different.” “But I know you,” he said helplessly. “I don't know Twilight as much as you do, much less her friends...” “Twilight Sparkle didn't know Rarity, Pinkie Pie, or the others very well when she met them, either,” Celestia reminded him. “That didn't stop them from forming bonds. Don't think of it as a hindrance. Think of it as...an opportunity! You can only discover a pony once, after all.” “But it goes both ways!” he replied despairingly. “If I mess this, they'll think I'm weird or something!” Granted, he was a shade whose age could be measured in millennia, but that only made him different, not weird. Celestia's smile didn't waver. “Now Mort,” she said, with a ribbing, reproachful tone, “I thought you read all of Twilight's latest reports when you stopped by tonight?” The sudden change in direction threw Mort off for a bit. “Um, I did...what does that have to do with anything?” Celestia cleared her throat. “'Dear Princess Celestia,'” she quoted, “'Today I learned that, though first impressions are important, they are often not the sole indicator of who a pony is. No pony is perfect, and at times we may say something or act in ways that don't represent us at all.' Does that ring any bells?” “That was...oh,” he said, feeling a wave of embarrassment. That was the latest report Twilight had sent, and also the very first one he had read tonight. “I...heh, t-that must've slipped my mind...” “Even if thee should stumble,” Luna added, “so long as thy intentions remain pure and true, Twilight and her companions will be able to see it.” “In short, stop worrying so much,” Celestia said, breaking it down. The princesses looked at him fondly, smiling in a way that told him everything was right in the world. For a short moment, Mort almost believed that he had gone back over a thousand years, when the three of them had met in this room, sharing a conversation very similar to the one they were having now. That night, they looked at him the very same way they were doing now. And just like then, he was grateful. So grateful for all the kindness they showed him, the things they taught him, and for opening his eyes like they had. If it weren't for them, he wouldn't be who he was now. It was a good thing he didn't have tear ducts, because otherwise he was sure he'd be crying right about now. “You're right,” he said, making an effort not to make a choking sound. “I...I'll try not to worry so much. If you think it'll work out, then I'm sure it will.” The princesses nodded, looking pleased. His eyes strayed from them, landing on a mirror near the wall. He walked over, staring into it. Staring out of it was was a bleached, skeletal pony with bright, burning eyes, wearing a cloak that would make the color black look pale. A horn jutted out the top of the hood, gleaming in the moonlight, and looking sharp enough to cut right through it. “Still,” he said, “we should probably do something about this, huh?” Celestia nodded behind him, the smile fading slightly. “I'm sure Twilight and her friends could look beyond it, but it would probably take time we don't have. Though I do not like tricking my student, a disguise would be in order...” “Let me have a go at it, then,” Luna said. “Though 'tis a tad unusual to change a pony, 'tis not impossible. It may even be easier in thy case, Mort, since thou art essentially composed of magic.” Luna braced herself, stretching out legs and wings, her horn glowing with a blueish light. Mort fidgeted uncomfortably, having very rarely been on the other end of a alicorn's horn. “Uh, this won't hurt, right? Pain is one of those things I'm happy to never learn about.” “Have faith, dearest friend.” The light from Luna's horn reached its apex, and a beam of magic shot out, striking Mort. He was relieved to find that it only tickled. Although slow at first, he began to feel the inklings of change within him. His form twisted and warped in ways he hadn't felt in the longest time. A magical shell formed around his skeleton to form an equine shape, and his molecules began to arrange themselves to imitate the aspects of a pony: a coat that covered him from head to hoof, a mane that cascaded from his scalp and down his neck, and a tail of the that flowed towards his hooves. The transformation was finished off with an orb popping into existence inside each eye socket, and his horn twisting into a conical shape. It all felt very unusual for him, but also a little nostalgic, reminding him of the days when he change his shape at will. When it was over, he flopped on the ground, immediately aware of a waistline that was never there before. Pushing himself up, he swaggered on his hooves before finding his balance. He looked up at Celestia and Luna, both of whom were shocked. “Well,” Celestia begun, with a slightly forced smile, “you do look like a pony. Mostly...” Luna kept her silence, and just continued to stare at Mort. Curious and a little fearful, he turned around to take a look at himself in the mirror, and gasped. What was in the mirror did bear some resemblance to a pony, at least in shape, but aspects of it were off: the red eyes were significantly smaller, the snout was longer and thinner, and his green coat seemed dull and washed out, including the gray mane and tail. There was clearly an aesthetic, just one he had never seen before. “How do you feel, Mort?” Celestia asked hesitantly. “Um, I feel...kinda fat,” he said, poking at the stomach underneath his cloak, and shuddering when he felt it move. It made him think of all the water and organs that would normally exist in that bag of flesh, and it made him feel queasy. He looked behind himself, and blinked with actual eyelids at what he saw wrapped around the base of his tail. “Is that a bow?” Luna giggled nervously, her cheeks reddening. “I thought it made thee look...cute?” Mort felt a sudden heat rush to his cheeks. Is that what blushing felt like? He turned to the mirror again, noting the new redness in his face, but no matter how much he looked, it didn't change that, in spite of a few similarities, he didn't really look like an Equestrian pony. “This...um...” He looked back at Luna, and smiled...or at least he thought he did. He never had lips before. “It's not...bad...?” “No...of course not,” Luna said, sounding unconvinced herself. “But I'm sure with a little work, I could—” But before she could even finish speaking, Mort gasped as his body begun to quake, jiggling like a pony-shaped piece of jello. There was a pop, and Mort collapsed to the ground, his body making a chattering noise as he did. He examined the mirror, and found himself back in his skeletal form. Luna looked distressed. “I-I don't understand! I did nothing!” Celestia walked over to help him up, extending a wing. “It's not your fault, Luna. To be honest, I half-expected this.” Mort took the wing, his arms tingling from the touch, and pulled himself up. “What are you talking about?” he asked. “You're made with a magic much unlike anything we've ever experienced, Mort,” Celestia explained. “I was hoping that it was similar enough that we could mold it, but it seems Thanasia made your form to be resistant to traditional spells. Anything we use on you won't last long, and may not even function properly.” The sun princess gave a disgruntled sigh. “It makes sense, I suppose. She wouldn't want mortal ponies to effect you in any way...” “Why didn't you say something, then?” he asked. “I'm afraid that if I did, Thanasia would have refused,” she said, looking somber at the thought. Mort reflected that she was probably right. That she hadn't anyway was a miracle in-and-of itself. “Well now what?” Luna scratched her chin thoughtfully. “Couldn't thou just change thyself? Ye did it quite often before, though I've been meaning to ask why thou stopped after forming the skeleton...” Luna was talking about his first attempts to mimic the pony form. Back then he simply warped his dark, amorphous body into an equine shape, though had felt compelled to go further. Luna had given him the idea to “build” his image from the ground up, by forming the skeletal structure first, and then overlaying everything else on top of it: nervous system, organs, muscles, skin, hair...if all went well, he would have looked like an authentic pony, if only in image. “Um, yeah, I was meaning to finish, but after...um...” Mort scratched at the floor, avoiding her eyes. “Y-you know, that whole business, all that time ago...” “Oh.” Luna's face became downcast, clear guilt in her eyes. “Yes, I suppose thee would be a little...discouraged, after that.” “I-it's okay, really!” he said hastily, feeling that the one conversation he had with Celestia about that night was more than enough. “I mean, it all kinda worked out, when you think about it.” He did an impromptu pose, raising his head in an attempt to look dignified. “They say simpler is better, and this is, indeed, a very iconic image, if I do say so myself.” This elicited a mirthful giggle from Luna, dispelling the earlier melancholy quite nicely. “It is rather classic now, isn't it?” “Absolutely! Now as for changing myself, well...” He scratched the back of his head, waiting for the rush of heat again, only to remember the skin and muscle was gone. “It's...kinda like a muscle, really. If you don't use it too much, it gets pretty weak, and I haven't shape shifted into much of anything for a long time...” “Well, you won't know until you try, right?” Celestia nudged him back towards the mirror. “Come on, just envision yourself as a pony. Think of all the ponies you've met and walked among. Their eyes, their coats, their manes and tails...” Mort fidgeted in front of the mirror, seeing the two sisters looking back at him through the reflection. With a gulp, he closed his eyes and tried to imagine himself not as a shade, but as the pony he was before. It wasn't right, but like Luna said, all he had to do was tweak it. He felt the familiar sensations of his body morphing into a new form. Parts of him shrunk and grew all at once as he struggled to get the correct proportions down. Increasing the size of the eyes, the hoofs, changing the head a little, and not making himself so wide. Confident in his changes, he settled on a final form, keeping his eyes shut. He only opened them again to look eagerly at the sisters. “So, what do you think now?” There was no reaction at first. Then Luna's eyes widened in what could only be mortal terror, and with a squeal of fright she buried her head in Celestia's wings, her body wracked with terrified sobs. Celestia's stared at him with wide eyes, her eyes twitching as the color seem to drain from her mane. Mort was a little taken aback. “It's...that bad?” There was another squeal of terror from Luna, and Celestia nodded in a slow, deliberate manner. “Oh come on, it can't be any worse than...” He turned to look in the mirror, and was face-to-face with what could have only been an eldritch creature. It almost looked like a pony, but its head was swelled to enormous and lumpy proportions, balancing atop a tiny neck that seemed ready to snap in two. The creature's hooves could be seen peeking out from underneath the cloak, and judging by their size, they were obviously stolen from some unfortunate, baby elephant. Most frightening of all, however, were the giant eyes that could only stare, glassy and soulless, ready to swallow all who looked into their depths... With a wail of fright, Mort pulled his hood down in front of the abominable face, and collapsed to the floor, curling into a ball and shaking violently, the monster's image still burned in his mind. He briefly wondered if this was what trauma felt like. There was a racket at the door. “Princesses! Are you alright?” a voice yelled from the other side. Luna recollected herself just in time to say, “Yes, we're quite alright! Don't come in!” “But—” “RETURN TO THY POSTS AT ONCE!” Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice boomed from within the confines of the room, shaking every window and knocking off trinkets sitting close to edges. There was an audible silence from the other side, broken by a meek compliance. “Y-yes your highness,” the voice said. It was followed by the sounds of hooves walking away from the door. Celestia poked around her ears, flinching. “Nicely done, Luna. But not so close to us next time...” Luna blushed. “Um, yes, of course,” she said, returning to a much more in-door voice. The pair of them walked over to Mort, who peeked out from beneath his hood. “Is..is it gone?” he asked. The pair of them stiffened for a moment, before nodding slowly. Mort cautiously looked at the mirror, and was relieved to be met by a skeletal face. “Oh thank goodness,” he said, getting up. “Mort,” Celestia said, steadying her voice, “I believe this this goes without saying, but that was...” “Horrifying?” Luna voiced, with an involuntary shudder. “I was going to say 'disturbing,' but that works too.” She left Luna's side to approach Mort, nuzzling him. “Are you okay?” Mort briefly flashed to the reflection from before, and sniffled. “I am never, ever doing that again,” he whimpered. “Yes, that clearly requires more practice,” Celestia said, stating the obvious. It certainly didn't bode well. Not just how it came out, but how it vanished so easily. Mort recalled Thanasia mentioning to him how distracted he could easily get. Staying in a transformed state would require a concentration that would need to be stable and unbending under every circumstance. He was most definitely not in a shape to do that. “Maybe we should try something else,” he said. “Hmm...how about...” He looked in the mirror, noting how obvious the bleached skull was in the hood. He tried to transform himself again, but in a different direction. His skull head faded out of sight, taking with it the eyes as well. He watched the mirror, pleased to see that there was only complete darkness in the hood. He liked this; it wasn't nearly as difficult as the last two attempts. “How about this?” He trotted over to the sisters, walking in circles as he showed off his empty hood. “I mean, really, the head and everything's mostly cosmetic. I can see perfectly fine without them, and this way no one sees a pony skull. Plus it's much easier.” “True,” Celestia said, some color returning to her mane, “but I don't think it's possible for a hood to hide so much so well.” “I don't even believe it looks dark. Just empty.” As Mort was walking near her, Luna suddenly stuck her head within the hood. “Salutations!” she called, her voice echoing within his hood, and in turn, his head. Mort stumbled back a ways, shaking his hooded head before finally reforming the pony skull and eyes. He groaned in annoyance, stomping his hooves on the ground. “Alright,” he said, annoyed, “I look even creepier trying to look like a normal pony, but getting rid of my head altogether looks wrong too. So how do I go around Ponyville without scaring all of them?” “Hmm...” Luna's horn glowed, and from a bookshelf there came a thick tome, floating over to her. She flipped the book open, and begun to flick through the pages with her magic, her eyes looking at the paper intently. Celestia looked over her shoulder. “What are you looking for, Luna?” “Spells,” she answered, not looking up from the book. “There are many spells out there that act to hide the spell caster. Transformation, charms, holographic imagery...perhaps one of these spells will hold the key.” Mort was immediately doubtful. “Didn't Celestia just say that normal spells won't work on me?” Luna didn't falter. “Yes, when we performed them. But perhaps the results would be different if thou were to attempt it, Mort.” “Me?” Mort asked, pointing at himself. “But...I don't know any illusion spells.” “Which is why I shall teach thee,” she said, laying the book on the floor. “I've tried a few of these myself, and am very knowledgeable about them. Combined that with your abilities, you should be able to learn a spell before the night is out!” Mort was a little lost, until he realized the “abilities” she meant were the ones that helped him gather information. If Luna could demonstrate the spell a few times for him, he should be able to gather exactly what she did, and then replicate it. He had never used it like that before, but it seemed logical enough. Celestia, at that point, let out a great yawn, her wings stretching to their full length. “Oh my goodness,” she said, a hoof to her lips in embarrassment. “Excuse me. I don't know what came over me.” Luna stared at her, then looked at a mantel clock above the fireplace. “Good heavens,” she exclaimed, “Celestia, thou should return to thy bed! Doesn't thou have much to do tomorrow?” “I really do,” the older sister said, thoughtfully. “But there's still so much to do. I have to tell Twilight about our plans, and I should probably help Mort with—” “No,” the darker sister said, and began to push her sibling towards the door. “Thou should go back to sleep immediately! I can assist Mort from here.” The older sister glanced back as she was slid across the floor. “And the letter?” Luna stopped her shoving to consider that for a moment. “I shall write her!” she declared. “Are you sure? You would need to—” “Sister,” the princess whined, “thou art always the one to announce such important tidings! Let me be the one to tell Twilight, if just this once!” Celestia glanced up thoughtfully, then slowly grinned. “Oh, alright. If you really want to.” Luna emitted a squee noise (a sound Mort still had no idea how to imitate himself), and continued to push her out of the room. Celestia rolled her eyes, and shot Mort a final, encouraging look. “Good luck tomorrow, Mort.” “Thank you,” he said. “Have a good night.” As Celestia was pushed past the doorway, the princess turned and nuzzled her sister one more time, wishing her a good night. Luna closed and locked the door, and quickly trotted over to the bed. “Mort,” she asked, “how much practice has thee had with magic?” “Well,” he said, scratching the back of his hood, “there's the levitation thing, my scythe, turning intangible, but I think that last one's more physiology than magic...” Luna scratched her chin, her brow creased in thought. “Very well,” she said, opening the tome again, “we have until sunrise to get this spell memorized. I can even teach thee some lessons in manners and etiquette. And if we have any time left...” She tapped her hooves together, smiling. “Maybe...we could play a board game?” Mort considered for a moment. “...Do you still have the Candy Mountain game set up?” Luna's horn glowed, and from underneath the bed came a box, its cover portraying two, ecstatic unicorns alongside an obviously grumpy unicorn as they trotted around a mountain covered in candy canes, lollipops and chocolate. The lid was lifted open, revealing a game board that had two game pieces taped to colored spaces. “Um, I don't suppose we could play that first?” he asked hopefully. Luna tutted. “Lessons first,” she said, putting the board game next to her, “Candy Mountain later.” ****** Twilight Sparkle looked at the pendulum clock hanging on the wall, the hands showing that the night was getting late. Stifling a yawn, she rubbed the bags from under her eyes and returned her attention to the matter at hoof; her friends had become involved in a dangerous, high-stakes, winner-take-all game, one that, at any moment, could send any one of them tumbling into an abyss that was virtually impossible to escape. Success or failure, it all rode on a little strategy, some negotiation skills, and a lot of luck. She shut her eyes tight, feeling the arcane energy flowing through her horn as she levitated the luck-based artifacts. She gave a silent prayer to Celestia, shook them in the air, and threw them. The two die rolled across the cardboard Ponopoly game board, before coming to a slow stop and showing their combined faces: three dots. Twilight Sparkle moaned miserably as she moved her tiara game piece three spaces, landing on one of the more nefarious squares: GO TO JAIL. “Aw, better luck next time, sugar cube,” Applejack said, the orange earth pony patting her friend's back sympathetically. Twilight floated her game piece from one end of the board to the other, where there was a picture of a jail. All along the sides of the board were squares of varying color named after streets, railroad stations, or utilities in Shetlantic City. All her friends sat around the board: Applejack sat right next to her, on the left side of the board was Rarity and Fluttershy, the pegasus tending to the play-bits as a banker, and opposite of them was Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. Applejack and Pinkie Pie had respectable piles of play-bits, but Rainbow Dash's pile and her own (especially her own) were dwindling rather fast. Just as Twilight Sparkle had finished putting her game piece down, Pinkie Pie dropped over her head a miniature, plastic cage that wobbled because of her horn. “Do I have to wear this every time?” she asked, shooting a dirty look at the pink pony. “Come on, Twilight, it's all in good fun!” Pinkie Pie gathered up the dice and begun to shake them, their plastic molds knocking against her hooves. “When we get to jail, we'll have to put it on too!” “You mean if you go to jail,” she replied, sourly. “I don't think I've even 'Passed Go' once since we started.” “Now, now, Twi', it's just a bit of bad luck,” Applejack said reassuringly. “It's just a matter of time before you catch a break, Ah'm sure of it!” Pinkie Pie let the dice fly, and the cubes rolled until they stopped with five dots showing. The pink pony moved her horseshoe game piece onto a “Chance” square. She picked a card from the center of the board, looked over it and squealed. “'You're donation drive awards you 100 bits!' Woo hoo! Lay it on me, Fluttershy!” “Oh, yes! Here you go.” The yellow pegasus gave a gentle smile, took some play-bits into her mouth, and plopped them onto Pinkie Pie's pile. “Don't go spending it all at once, now.” “Or at all, like Rarity,” Rainbow Dash snickered. Rarity, sitting next to Fluttershy, shot the young flier a heated look. “Pardon me? Was that supposed to be a jab at me, Rainbow Dash?” “Hey, all I'm saying is the point of the game is to, you know buy things.” She shrugged. “Heck, if I landed on even half the stuff you did, I'd be doing a lot better!” “Hmph. Unlike you, I've actually been to Shetlantic City,” she said disdainfully, flipping her mane. “I don't know why they would make Boardtrot so expensive, it was a complete dump when I was there! I would never want to waste any bits on that.” Twilight Sparkle stifled a giggle. Rarity had been one of the first ones eliminated, if only because she had completely refused to buy any of the properties she landed on, losing them all to the other players. (According to Rarity, Ponyvania Avenue had more in common with rats then ponies, Coltic Avenue had a terrible view, Lope Railroad was never on time, etc.) Eventually the picky unicorn had lost all her money to bad cards, or by landing on owned property. The librarian's luck had been the completely opposite: she had somehow always managed to roll a number that lead her back to jail, or to get a card that stole away her play-bits. Fluttershy had eventually just decided to give her play-bits to the lavender unicorn, half out of pity, half out of wanting to get out of the game. The pegasus had picked a card stating in no uncertain terms she had gained 200 bits by selling off an animal preserve to a logging company. She hadn't taken it very well. Rainbow Dash scooped up the dice in her hooves. “Whatever, it's time for me to get back in the lead! Make way for the Dash Deluxe Die Doubles Drop!” She shook her hooves, faster and faster until they were a blue blur in front of everyone, somehow forming gusts of air that forced Fluttershy to use her hooves, wings and tail to keep the card piles from flying everywhere. Finally, Rainbow Dash's hooves opened and the two die shot out at lightening speed, ricocheting off the board and around the room. Everyone yelped and squeaked as the cubes shot around the bottom floor, bouncing off walls, books, vases, and even Rarity's horn. The unicorn was about to snap something at Rainbow Dash, but had to duck to avoid the other die. Both die finally came crashing back down onto the board, twirling on their corners before finally coming to a rest. Rainbow Dash took an eager look at them, only for that look to turn into one of despair. Shuddering, she covered her face with one hoof, and used the other hoof to move her Wonderbolt game piece towards its destination. Applejack looked to see where Rainbow Dash was, and winced. She took her hat and held it in front of her in mourning. “Ooh, Rodeo Place with a couple of hotels, too. Looks like yer out, Dash.” The cyan pegasus, with a huff, shoved her remaining play-bits over to who had been the most successful player the entire game, by far. She turned her back to the player, her forelegs crossed in a pout. “There you go,” she grumbled sourly. “Hoo.” “You.” “Hoo.” “You!” “Hoo.” Rainbow Dash fumed. “I just said-” “Uh, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight Sparkle interrupted, flatly. “That's just what he says, on account of being an owl.” “I knew that,” she said, though the hot streak across her cheeks said otherwise. She glared daggers at Owlowiscious, Twilight Sparkle's nighttime assistant, as it perched on a neat stack of play-bits. “How does he even know how to play?!” Twilight Sparkle shrugged. “Oh, this is nothing. You should watch him play chess.” “Don' you worry none, Dash, there ain't no shame in losin' to a good player.” Applejack took the dice up and sent them rolling across the board, and moved her wagon game piece appropriately. “It's too bad Derpy couldn't stick around for this late night get-together, Twi.” The unicorn nodded, the plastic cage rattling. “Well, she does have to be up pretty early for her mail route. Not to mention she has her own responsibilities at home.” “It was very noble of you to stick up for her like you did, darling,” Rarity said with an appreciative smile. “I think it meant the world to her.” Pinkie Pie clopped her hoofs together. “Oh, definitely! You're really becoming the super-best-friendship pony in Ponyville, Twilight!” “Oh, come on, it's not that big a deal,” the student replied with a blush. The gray mailmare had been a staple of Ponyville, but also a target for derisive names and remarks, mostly aimed at her eyes and habitual quirks. After spending a couple days with the pegasus, Twilight Sparkle had finally rose to her defense earlier that day to remind everyone what a good pony she was deep down. “I still have a lot to learn about friendship. I just hope Celestia likes the report I sent.” “Aw, Ah'm sure she'll find it fine-and-dandy like always,” Applejack said, collecting 100 play-bits from Fluttershy. “Don' think you'll be hearin' anythin' 'til tomorrow, though, late as it is.” Twilight Sparkle grinned sheepishly. “I did send the report a little later then normal, didn't I? Well, I'm sure she'll have plenty of time to read it—” Before she could finish, everypony (and owl) jumped at the sound of a large belch upstairs, followed by the telltale smell of smoke tinged with sulfur. Groaning tiredly, Spike hobbled down the stairs, his eyes practically closed from exhaustion. He rubbed at his eyes with one claw, as the other held a wrapped parchment with a horseshoe seal. “Twilight,” the baby dragon yawned, “I think the princess sent you something.” “Huh? Now?” Twilight Sparkle got up from her position and walked over to Spike, levitating the scroll from his claws. The dragon gave a big yawn and curled up in front of the stairs, mumbling. Fluttershy looked at the scroll quizzically. “Why would she send you something so late at night?” “It's not an emergency, is it?” Rarity asked with an edge of concern. “There's not another hoodlum dragon in the mountains, is there?” “Give me a second.” Twilight readied herself to open the scroll, when she noticed something different about it. While all of her letters from the princess was sealed with a gold loop, this one had been sealed with one that was silver. Confused and intrigued, Twilight made to unwrap the scroll, but stopped when she realized the plastic cage was still on her head. With a level look, she floated the cage off her head and plopped it on the gameboard. “Hey, you just broke out of jail!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pointing an accusing hoof at her. “I've been royally pardoned,” the unicorn replied flatly. With that said, she cleared her throat and began to read from the parchment out loud. “'Dear Twilight Sparkle, Our most prestigious savior,'” she started, with a hint of pride in her voice. “'Our sincerest apologies to thee and...thy...?” There was an exchange of confused looks between the friends as soon as the archaic Equestrian popped up. “Since when did Celestia speak all oldy-like?” Applejack asked. Twilight glanced at the scroll in front of her, and back down at the silver loop, piecing it together. “AJ, I don't think Celestia wrote this. I think this is from Princess Luna!” “Luna?” Pinkie Pie popped up from behind Twilight, scrutinizing the letter. Her accusatory tone resurfaced. “Hey, you didn't say you were sending friendship reports to Luna now! Does Celestia know about this?” Twilight stared at her with an oft-used perplexed expression. “What? No, Pinkie—” The pink mare gasped, looking mortified. “Twilight, how could you! Going around Celestia's back like that! To think she trusted you!” “Pinkie, I never sent a friendship report to Luna!” Twilight replied, feeling oddly defensive. “This is just...a misunderstanding, that's all!” Rarity facehooved with a groan. “Oh, for pity's sake, just tell us what it says, darling!” Twilight stared at Pinkie, gesturing for her to step back. The party pony did, but all the while kept a pair of suspicious eyes on her. Twilight rolled her eyes, and started on the letter again. “'Our sincerest apologies to thee and thy assistant for sending this at such a late hour.'” “If she was sorry, she would've sent gems,” the baby dragon mumbled quietly. “Shh! 'Twilight, We feel that thy research into the magic of friendship has been of great benefit, not just to thee and thy friends, but also to Equestria as a whole. Time and time again, thou hast delivered us from great evil, whether it be from the diabolical machinations of the changeling Queen, the dark magic of the spirit of disharmony, or even our regrettably misguided actions.'” She stopped, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Um, wow, she's really laying it on thick, isn't she?” “Why shouldn't she?” Rainbow Dash smacked Twilight Sparkle's back, causing the latter to grunt. “We rock!” Rarity nodded with a smile. “Indeed! I know it's not always posh to gloat, but we are a fairly successful group of mares, if I do say so myself.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “You'd think they would have written a couple books about us by now...” “O-oh, please, no,” Fluttershy whispered, trembling. “The less they know about my younger years, the better.” “Well, what are you waiting for?” Pinkie Pie asked, hopping in place. “Keep reading! Keep reading! Maybe she wants to throw us a huge party or something!” Twilight Sparkled nodded, and did so: “'When We look at thee and thy friends, and all that has been accomplished, it reminds Us of how powerful friendship can be, and what it can do in a pony's darkest hour. It is for this reason, in fact, that We wish to impart thee with a new, and very important, task.'” There was a collective ooh from the others. Behind them, Spike grumbled, a leg absently scratching at his ear. “What's she want us to do?” Rainbow Dash asked, excitement rising in her voice. “Go on an adventure? Find another element? Charge into Tartaurus itself?” “I really hope not,” Twilight grumbled, recalling her last trip. Going there was never that difficult, it was always just getting out. It also didn't help that by then, Cerberus had discovered the joy of ball chasing and become rather friendly with her. Too friendly. Wanting not to dwell on that particular memory, she continued. “For thy next task, Twilight Sparkle, I charge thee with showing the magic of friendship to...'” Twilight stared at the words, her face scrunching up at the name. “Mort?” Fluttershy sighed in relief. “Oh, thank goodness...” Rainbow Dash's jaw went slack. “That's it? She just wants us to be friends with somepony? Lame!” “Come on now, sugar-cube, there ain't nothin' 'lame' about gettin' to know another pony,” Applejack chided. “I-I know that! But when you open up a letter like that, you'd think it'd be a little more...y'know, exciting!” “What are you talking about, Dashie?” Pinkie Pie started to hop up and down, going in a circle around the ponies. “We're going to be making a new friend! What could be more exciting than that?!” “Hold on, girls, there's more. 'In this world there are many creatures that have important responsibilities, responsibilities that can not be easily shifted or shared by others, and can never be left unattended. Mort, unfortunately, is one of them. We cannot speak of it at length, but he has a duty that cannot be done by any other, and because of this, has had little reprieve from it. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he has not known true rest for many years.'” “Well, that just sounds dreadful,” Rarity said, looking stricken. “No kiddin',” Applejack added. “Farm life ain't easy, but even I can manage a day or two off.” “They can't do anything? No partying? No singing?!” Pinkie Pie was reeling from the idea of another pony never having any fun, as if she had just been told something that was utterly improbable. (Perhaps, in Pinkie Pie's case, the equivalent of saying that gumdrops weren't sweet.) “How's that even possible?” Rainbow Dash scratched her chin in thought, and gasped in excitement. “Maybe he's a super, secret agent!” In an instant she got low to the ground, her eyes darting left and right. “Somepony who's behind enemy lines, blending in with bad guys, who has to watch his back at every turn, or risk being caught! Or worse.” The last word was directed at Fluttershy, who squeaked in fright. She curled up on the ground, looking fearful. “W-would the princesses really use spies...?” “Of course not,” Twilight said testily. Applejack hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe he's one of 'em fancy aristercrats or somethin'? A prince, maybe?” “I'm sure Fancy Pants can be quite busy, but he certainly seemed to have enough free time on his hooves,” Rarity commented. “And I'm sure even royalty is capable of some time off.” “Maybe he's a chef!” The ponies all turned towards Pinkie Pie, who looked at them blankly. “What?” she said, defensively. “He could cook for the princesses! They're super-magical ponies who switch shifts! That's a super-metabolism twenty-four-seven!” “Of course,” Twilight Sparkle said slowly, though she had to admit it was more than what she could come up with. It didn't help Luna had explicitly stated she couldn't go into detail about it. While Twilight wouldn't expect the princess to explain every, minute detail, couldn't she have at least said what the job was, at least? She shoved those thoughts aside for another time. She returned her eyes to the letter. “'While recent circumstances have finally given Mort a chance to be away from his duties—a “holiday,” as they call it—he regretfully has no pony to spend it with. His “family” is quite distant and unavailable, and his only friends—while They care deeply for him—have important responsibilities of their own that, also, cannot go unattended. Mort is currently, for all intents and purposes, alone...'” She couldn't keep herself from ending the passage on a morose tone. Twilight lingered on that last word, thinking back to before Ponyville, before meeting her friends. All those holidays and special occasions where she had opted to just study and stay in her room. Missing out on so much, so often. When she looked up from the letter, the rest of her friends seemed similarly somber. All except Pinkie Pie, who seemed to be beaming. “Uh, Pinkie? Are you okay?” “I think I know where this is going,” she said, barely able to contain her apparent excitement. “Keep reading, keep reading!” Twilight arched a bemused eyebrow, and continued on. “'Thankfully, Twilight, not all is lost, for We know that thou hast learned very much since coming to Ponyville. Thou and thy friends have been able to bring joy to many ponies, whether it be in Ponyville, Appleloosa, or even Canterlot! It is for this reason that We charge thee with showing Mort the magic of friendship, and make this a truly glorious holiday that he will not forget.'” “Woo hoo! New ponies to be friends with!” Pinkie Pie bounced. “We can play games, party, eat cake, party, dance, and party! Isn't it great, Twilight?!” Twilight Sparkle bit her lip. “Um, yeah! Great, really great...” She forced a smile, trying to hide the sudden apprehension she felt. Judging by the odd look everypony gave her, she knew she hadn't hidden it as well as she’d hoped. “Are you okay, Twilight?” Fluttershy moved closer, her face masked with concern. “Well...” She opened her mouth, but couldn't bring forth any words. “I thought you'd be more excited about something like this, dear,” Rarity said, standing next to Fluttershy. “I mean, this makes two princesses that you answer to now, and you always seem so excited about making more friends...” “I know, and I should be, but...” Twilight Sparkle scanned the paragraphs talking about “Mort,” feeling doubtful. “It's just kind of unusual...you'd think that Luna would actually say what he did, but she doesn't mention a thing about it. She doesn't really tell us anything about him at all.” There were other things as well; the quotations around the word “family,” for instance, and how she had capitalized “they” when referring to Mort's friends. Maybe he was royalty? She sighed, feeling slightly aggravated, which is how she always got when not getting the full picture. “I don't know. There's being vague, and then there's just not saying anything at all!” “Hey, if I was sending my top secret-agent out into the field, I wouldn't say anything either,” Rainbow Dash said, as if it were obvious. “Oh please,” Rarity retorted, rolling her eyes. “He has just as much chance of being a janitor at this point.” “Yeah? What's so 'unique' about being a janitor?” Rainbow Dash asked her, tersely. “Well I certainly don't know, but it's certainly more sensible then some 'spy,'” Rarity said, her voice adamant. “Girls, stop,” Twilight Sparkle said absently, scratching her head. “I'm sure there's a good reason for it...” “Oh, stop being such a worry wart about sorry Mort!” Pinkie Pie giggled. “Luna just wants us to make new friends! It's not like she's testing you or—” Pinkie suddenly clamped her mouth shut with her hooves, but it was too late. The dreaded T-word had already entered in one of Twilight's ears, and was currently bouncing around her head like a super-heated atom. “That's it! That's exactly what this is!” she said, not noticing the shared, apprehensive looks between her friends. Applejack cleared her throat, and smiled nervously. “Uh, come again, sugar cube?” “It's obvious!” she said, and she couldn't believe she didn't see it before. “It's a test! Luna's testing me to see if I could befriend a pony I don't know anything about! What he's like, what he does, even what he looks like! A complete and total stranger!” “I don't know,” Fluttershy said softly. “I mean, you're already friends with us, and you knew even less about us than him...” “She's right, dear,” Rarity said, sounding skeptical. “Why test you on something you're obviously good at already?” Twilight Sparkle felt her earlier conviction fade. “I...I don't know. Maybe there's something special about him? Maybe he's really difficult to be with, or maybe something about his appearance scares others? When you think about it, she doesn't even tell us if 'Mort' is a pony at all.” She sighed. “I don't know, but this all just seems to scream scream 'secret test!'” Pinkie Pie hummed, unconvinced. “I still think she just wants him to have friends.” “No reason it can't be both,” Applejack said. “But we won't know what's special 'bout 'im 'til he gets here.” “Speaking of which, when is he getting here?” Rarity asked. “Oh, uh...” Twilight Sparkle took another look at the scroll, and noticed that the bottom of it was still curled up. She straightened it, and begun to read: “'Mort will meet thee at the library tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. I have the utmost faith in thee, Twilight Sparkle. Your Most Royal—' TOMORROW?!” Twilight Sparkle's scream caused them all to leap back, staring at her. The unicorn's eyes had grown to the size of saucers, the scroll floating to the ground. Somewhere in the back, Spike grumbled again. “He's coming over tomorrow?! But it's...I don't...tomorrow's just...!” The unicorn began to hyperventilate on the spot, panic surging through her body. “T-Twilight?” Fluttershy took a step back, a look of fear on her face. “Are you okay?” She whipped her head around to look at them, suddenly feeling very claustrophobic. “You need to go,” she said, hurriedly, her horn glowing as she quickly packed up the Ponopoly board before all-but throwing it back onto a shelf. “I'm sorry, but I need peace, quiet and a lot of time to study! We'll try this again sometime! I promise!” “But Twilight—” “Go!” Her horn glowed, gathering up all her friends into one spot, and she began to shove them out the library door. “Go-go-go-go-go!” Before her friends could utter another word, she slammed the door shut behind them, and spun back around. Spike was still sleeping in front of the steps, and the clock was ticking away, each swing of the pendulum bringing tomorrow a little closer. She had only one thought on her mind then: study. “Owlowiscious! Bring me copies of the friendship reports I sent the princess! Spike...” She looked at the foot of the steps, where next to them lay a curled dragon who was already far into dreamland. “Uh, on second thought...Owlowiscious? Could you...?” The owl hooted, swooped down and grabbed the dragon by his fins. In one, graceful motion the owl flew to the second floor, and in a moment came back, holding scrolls in his feet. He dropped them on top of a reading table, flew back upstairs, and came back with more. Twilight Sparkle unwrapped one of the scrolls and scanned its contents, her eyes focused on every letter that had been written. Into the night, the pony shade and the lavender unicorn studied intently. While both were very different from each other in many ways, they both shared one, similar thought: Tomorrow was going to be a very important day.