//------------------------------// // Chapter 11 // Story: Dreams' Horizon // by DrakeyC //------------------------------// Twilight finished filling in the boxes of the chart in front of her and slid it across the table. “There. Week four’s data compiled.” “Thank you.” Lemon Hearts picked up the chart and turned to the wall in her dorm room where three others were already hanging. Two small pieces of tape pressed the corners of the chart into place, and Lemon stepped back to look them over. She nodded and turned to the table. “Thank you again for helping me with this. I know this isn’t how you pictured spending your morning, but I wanted to get this done.” She lifted a water bottle from the table and took a drink. “Of course.” Twilight smiled brightly. “You’re always there when we need the help, after all.” “I know.” Lemon set her water down. “Math isn’t my strong suit, nevermind magical math. I would have asked Moondancer for help too, but she was busy. And Minuette isn’t much better at math than me.” “Luster?” “I wasn’t sure if she would be up to it with…um, you know.” Lemon winced. “Er, sorry.” Twilight shook her head and held up her hoof. “No, it’s fine. And that’s fair. I know she’s still mostly my friend, even if she gets along with you girls.” “I think Minuette and Moondancer have occasionally hung out with her. I don’t pry, though.” Twilight nodded and looked back at the charts. “You said this is the first month of your thesis research done?” “Yup.” Lemon nodded and walked up to the charts, sweeping her hoof over them. “Twenty-eight days, exactly the length of a standard Nasenuan lunar cycle. Kept track of time spent performing the spells, how long they lasted if applicable, and how much magic it took.” She looked sheepish. “And then you had to do the conversion formulas to give me more numbers to look at.” “And is there anything useful?” “No.” Lemon huffed, her head turning between different charts. “It’s well-known that the movements of the sun, the moons, and the planets can affect magic. But I’m not seeing any kind of correlation with these figures.” “None at all?” Twilight climbed off her chair and stepped next to her, brow furrowed. “That doesn’t seem right.” “I know.” Lemon picked up a textbook from her bed where several had been laid out and flipped to a dog-eared page. “Twenty-eight days is nothing for the outer planets in terms of their yearly cycle, but it’s still enough for them to make a significant movement. Every celestial body has some sort of major variance in its position compared to when I began, so there ought to be some sort of linear pattern. But there isn’t.” Twilight glanced over at the textbook and saw a chart of the solar system with a table of numbers for the length of days and years. “Are you sure you took your original numbers right?” “Absolutely.” Lemon pointed her hoof at the left side of one chart. “I did the experiments at the exact same time of evening every single day, eleven PM. Used an identical set of rocks bought from a gardening store for a basis. I mixed one with alchemy to make it glow, put the other in suspended telekinesis, transmuted another into lead, made another look like a salt shaker, and the last one I charged with magical energy. Every time I measured my magic before casting the spell and after, cast the spell for the exact same amount of time, and tracked how long it lasted. I was very precise.” “Yup, sounds like it.” Twilight looked at the charts. “But you’re sure there’s no pattern?”  “Not one that’s immediately apparent, which there ought to be.” Lemon frowned. “I know twenty-eight days isn’t the longest control period I could do, but it should at least give me something!” She looked at the charts again and took a step back, her eyes scanning back and forth. “Hey, you’ll figure it out.” Twilight patted her on the back. “There’s a lot of numbers to analyze here. Maybe it’ll take more time.” “Maybe…” Lemon squinted and pursed her lips. “The closest thing to a correlation for the moment is an increase in the duration of the spells in the middle of week three. That was around the time the two moons were full, so that could be something.” She looked at the chart and sighed. “But there’s still too many spikes and dips the rest of the time to try and say that’s the direct cause.” “It’s something at least. Give it more time, you’ll figure it out. Like Dr. Turner said, we do know for sure there’s a connection between the celestial bodies and pony magic. You just have to keep looking for how it works.” “Right.” Lemon nodded and took a breath. “Also, good idea. Could show these to Dr. Turner, he may be able to see something I don’t.” Lemon’s horn lit and she began peeling the tape off the charts and taking them down.  “A second opinion never hurts.” Twilight stepped back and let Lemon finish her work. “Always bugged me nopony ever figured this out,” Lemon said, more to herself than to Twilight. “We know the cosmos affects pony magic, but how can we not know precisely how? Hundreds of years of studying the planets and the moons, you’d think somepony would have cracked the code.” “It might be you,” Twilight said. “A mare can dream.” Lemon rocked her head as she rolled up the last chart. She  bent the tape on the ends over to hold them together, and took a breath. “I spoke to Twinkleshine.” Twilight’s ears perked. “Oh? And?” “We talked. A bit. Don’t quite know what it means, but it happened.” Lemon looked at Twilight and smiled. “She told me you talked her into it. Thank you.” “I didn’t talk her into anything, really. I just tried to make her see things your way and why you might be just as upset as her.” “You mean her tendency to say whatever’s on her mind without filtering it?” Lemon said sharply. She frowned and shook her head. “Okay, still not entirely over it. But I will be, maybe.” “Good.” Twilight patted her on the back. “We both know how she can be sometimes. She really didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just her way.” “I know.” Lemon nodded. “Which is why it meant a lot to me that she was the one who approached me first. I think it means she recognizes she was in the wrong.” She sighed. “And, on further thought, I realize I was, too. I love helping other ponies, but when she snapped at me I just let her get to me. I didn’t really think she was wasting her time, but I said it because I wanted to be mean. Even when she’s being insufferable, she doesn’t do that, not on purpose.” “Hey now.” Twilight turned Lemon’s head toward her. “No guilt like that, right? You two talked things over and they’re good now. If they aren’t good, don’t let it fester, talk some more.” “No, we are good.” Lemon stepped away from Twilight and set her rolled-up charts on her bed. “I’m upset at myself for stooping to a personal insult like that. I should have held my tongue.” “It happens, nopony is a saint.” “Yeah…” Lemon inhaled and spun around, a wide smile on her face. “Well, it’s Sunday and it is a beautiful day out. I was going to head out a little after noon and meet with Minuette for lunch and shopping. Do you want to come?” “I would, but I can’t.” Twilight looked at the clock over the door. “I have an appointment in twenty minutes.” “Appointment?” “Luster and I have chatted a bit since we made up, both that afternoon and yesterday when we went to the library with Moondancer. So I feel overall content in saying that we are on the road to a repaired friendship.” Twilight nodded to punctuate the statement. On the other side of her desk, Celesita nodded back and smiled. “I’m very glad to hear you two were able to work things out. As you told Luster, a small disagreement like this isn’t something that you should let come between you two. That you both want to move past it is a sure sign that you’ve found true friendship with each other.” “Thank you, Princess.” Twilight bowed her head for a moment, and then gave a small shrug. “If I’m being fully honest, part of me wants to know what her thesis is about that she reacted so fiercely. But I’m sure if it concerned me or if she wanted me involved, she would tell me, and until then I will respect her privacy.” “I think that is for the best. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, Luster is not one to let a pony into her life easily.” Telling me about her thesis is letting me into her life? Twilight wrinkled her nose. I wasn’t prying into something personal. Or was I? Celestia would know what Luster’s thesis is about, she had to approve it. Is she trying to tell me something without telling me? Or am I reading into things? “Twilight.” The gentle voice made Twilight jerk and she focused back on Celestia. “Yes?” “You got lost in thought.” The princess gave her a bemused smile and a raise of her eyebrow. “Oh, yes. Sorry. Just, thinking.” She waved a hoof. “In other developments, my thesis is going well.” Celestia’s expression relaxed. “That is good to hear. The odd dreams, yes?” “Yes. A friend of mine has prepared a thaumometer to measure any magical influence on my sleep cycle, so that will give me a lead. And another offered the more direct approach of simply asking Sunset to meet with me, if I think she’s a real pony.” Twilight pursed her lips. “That wouldn’t be a sort of cheating, would it? Meeting the pony causing them directly?” “Not at all, it’s a perfectly logical and reasonable course of action.” Celestia held up a hoof. “However, if you can confirm somepony you know is causing these dreams, I’d like you to refrain from inquiring as to their methods. Discovering that is the root idea of your thesis, and it would be considered ‘cheating’ to have somepony tell you that.” “Agreed.” Twilight sighed. “A direct meeting is the best lead I have for now. I tried to figure out who Sunset could be by looking over my journals of the dreams, but there’s no clues there. Her stories of her school life are extremely consistent, so I don’t think they’re just an elaborate lie. The last time I saw her, she mentioned a classmate named Blueblood. I thought perhaps I–” “Blueblood?” Twilight stopped. Celestia’s brow had furrowed and her eyes had narrowed. She leaned forward. “Yes, he was a noble that attended school with her. I thought I could look him up as he seems the type to remember her.” Twilight examined Celestia’s expression. “If that is permitted? I don’t know what kind of noble he is. Should I not speak to him?” “Oh, no. I mean, no, that won’t be necessary. I was simply surprised to hear such a name.” Celestia sat back and shook her head. “I will save you the trouble, Twilight. There is no noble named ‘Blueblood’ attending the SGU.” “Are you certain?” “Quite. I pay close attention to members of the nobility that enroll in SGU, to ensure they are not trying to use their money or social status to curry favoritism with the faculty.” “I see. Thank you.” Twilight looked away, drifting off into thought. I could try and claim that the dream is distorting the name I heard, but that’s leaning far too heavily into the idea of it distorting everything Sunset says and does. If I can’t trust anything in them, why even bother looking for clues? “Twilight?” Twilight jerked and looked back at Celestia. She felt her face grow hot and she lightly coughed into her hoof. “Sorry, Princess. I’m just trying to figure out what that means, then.” “Of course. You have quite a mystery on your hooves.” Celestia stood and slowly crossed her desk and draped a wing over Twilight. “But I am confident you can solve it. From what you’ve told me, you’re taking all the right steps to finding an answer.” “I hope so.” Twilight let out a small sigh. “I just…” she clenched her eyes and inhaled. “There’s something important going on here that I’m not seeing. I can feel it, somehow. I can’t explain it, which makes no sense, but something about Sunset… she...she’s…” She opened her eyes and gave Celestia a sheepish look. “I’m not sure how to put it into words.” Celestia’s response was a soft chuckle and a small smile. “That won’t be necessary, Twilight. I think I can grasp what you’re trying to convey. I agree, you should continue pursuing this. It’s proving to be quite interesting.” Her smile faded as she looked up at a clock on the wall. “My apologies, but if there is nothing else pressing, I have another appointment in ten minutes I would like to prepare for.” “Oh, of course.” Twilight hopped off the chair and bowed. “Thank you for seeing me, Princess. I appreciate your help.” “And I am grateful to be of help, Twilight.” Celesita nodded. “Take care, and feel free to schedule to see me again if you need to.” Twilight nodded and turned to lightly trot towards the lift. As she pressed her hoof to the panel to open the doors, she found herself smiling. Luster and I are talking, the Princess is encouraging my project, and my friends are getting along. Three for three, anxiety sources resolved. The muffled shouting was loud enough to be heard halfway down the hall of the dorms, causing two students coming towards Twilight to turn their heads and frown when they passed the source. Twilight’s expression mirrored theirs as they passed her; now that she was getting closer, she recognized the source. She quickened her pace and stopped at the door to her dorm. “I never said that!” Twilight groaned and let her head rest against the door. I knew I jinxed it. I brought this on myself. She lifted her head, steeled her nerves, and pushed the door open. On the far side of the room next to her bed, glaring angrily with her ears flat and her eyes wide, was Twinkleshine. And in front of the fridge, looking equally as enraged, was Lemon Hearts. Twinkleshine beat a hoof on the carpet and snorted. “At least when I’m wrong, I’m honest enough to admit it!” “And you feel like being an ungrateful jerk, you’re honest about that, too!” Lemon snapped back. Twilight moved her eyes between them; neither seemed to have noticed she had even entered the room. She seized the handle of the door in her magic and slammed it shut, the bang echoing through the room. The other two mares jumped and turned their heads to face her. Twilight eyed the two calmly. “I would ask what is going on, but I’d say it’s self explanatory.” Twinkleshine scoffed. “She–” “No!” Twilight cut in sharply. “You are not upset with me, you are upset with her, and you will not raise your voice either way! Explain calmly.” Twinkleshine expression softened slightly. She closed her eyes and took a breath, then opened it and exhaled. “She came by looking for you, asked me to tell you to swing by her room when I saw you. I said I would, she said ‘thank you, I appreciate it’, in a very sarcastic tone, and–” “I was not being sarcastic!” Lemon cried. Twilight stepped up next to her and gave her a firm look. Lemon glanced at her, saw her expression, and grit her teeth. When she resumed, her voice strained to remain calm. “I said ‘I appreciate it’ because I didn’t know you were still mad at me, so I took it as a good sign that you were willing to pass along a message.”  “Yeah, right.” Twinkleshine stepped around the bed, not turning away. “Then why did you mutter it under your breath?” “I did not. I said it a bit lower, maybe, but I did not mutter it.” “You said it ‘a bit lower’? Pretty sure that’s muttering.” Lemon huffed and ignored the remark, instead turning her eyes to Twilight. “And then she snapped ‘what’s that supposed to mean’ at me, and before I could explain she starts going on how I’m trying to make a point that I appreciate help and she doesn’t.” “Seriously?” Twilight slapped a hoof to her face. “This is ridiculous! You two are supposed to be friends. Talk things out!” “I explained myself!” Lemon protested. “Fair enough,” Twilight looked across the room. “Twinkleshine, why do you not believe her?” “If she had just said ‘I appreciate it’ to my face, I wouldn’t have said anything.” She shook her head. “But she didn’t, she just walked away and muttered it. Being passive-aggressive like usual.” Lemon’s jaw drop. “What ‘like usual’? I am never passive-aggressive!” “Calm, we are keeping calm,” Twilight said loudly. She looked at Twinkleshine evenly. “I’d say it sounds like Twinkleshine has some things to say beyond just this incident.” “Come on, Twilight!” Twinkleshine thrust a hoof at Lemon. “You know what she’s like! Always making her little comments and asides without just saying what she means.” “You do the exact same thing!” Lemon said. “You’re always such a snarky little joke machine, having to make a crack at everything.” “Yeah, I don’t hide my feelings or lie about my opinions. If I’ve got a problem with something, I say it openly.” “Exactly.” Lemon put her hooves to her head and grunted, then threw them down and glared. “You have no sense of tact, you just say whatever’s on your mind and the rest of us just run with it because ‘that’s just how she is’! Well maybe, if that’s who you are, then who you are is a loudmouth with no respect for anypony’s feelings but your own!” The room fell silent. Twinkleshine’s muzzle shook as she stared misty eyed at Lemon. Lemon held her gaze for a moment for a moment, then blinked, registering what she had said. “Twinkleshine, I’m sorry, I didn’t–” “You did.” Twinkleshine closed her eyes and nodded firmly. “See? It’s good to be open with how you feel.” “That’s not how I feel!” Lemon rushed across the room and put a hoof to Twinklechest’s chest. “I was angry, I wanted to upset you, but that isn’t the truth at all!” “Is that so?” Twinkleshine replied, not opening her eyes. “Yes! Twinkleshine, you are a caring, reliable, smart pony, and a good friend! You just…” Lemon winced. “You need to…” “Stop being a loudmouth.” “No!” “Yes.” Twinkleshine opened her eyes and the two looked back at Twilight. She began walking towards them. “I know what Lemon meant when she said she wasn’t telling the truth, but she was.” Twilight kept going before Lemon could interrupt. “You do have a big mouth. It’s part of who you are and we wouldn’t change that. If you did, you wouldn’t be the witty, fun pony we like being with. But being open with your opinions doesn’t excuse being rude or mean about them. And you need to realize that sometimes, you aren’t aware of how you come off to other ponies. Or that the things you say can hurt them, even if you didn’t mean to.” Twinkleshine swallowed and bobbed her head. “...like what Lemon said.” “Exactly.” Twinkleshine opened her eyes and looked back at Lemon. “I…” she stopped and pursed her mouth. Twilight stepped beside the two and put a hoof on each of their shoulders. “You both know the real reason you’re angry. It’s what started all of this. Address it.” Twinkleshine nodded and took a breath. “I’m sorry I snapped at you when you were trying to help me. It was delicate work inscribing the crystal and it put me on edge and I let the stress get to me. That’s not an excuse, though.” She began to speak again, but stopped and bit her lip. “Yeah.” Twilight frowned and leaned forward in front of her. “What? Say it. No better time.” “Just… was gonna say that even if you weren’t holding it steady, I know you were doing your best and you weren’t being lazy or sloppy or anything. So, still not right.” She lifted her eyebrows and turned her eyes to Twilight. “Stopped myself because complaining about what started all this isn’t going to help.” Lemon shook her head and Twinkleshine turned back to her as she spoke. “No, it’s fine, you’re right. I was doing my best to hold it steady. If it wasn’t good enough for you then I was just not the right pony to help. I’m sorry I snapped at you then and just now. And I don’t think you were wasting your time. You’re trying something that maybe nopony has tried before. Even if you can’t get your project to work, you’re going to learn a lot of things that could be used to help other ponies in this kind of research.” “I hope so.” Twinkleshine smiled. “Thank you, too. But you shouldn’t be apologizing, I’m the one who started this, both times.” “And I escalated it both times.” Lemon pushed past Twilight and came closer to Twinkleshine. “We should both know better.” “Right.” The two hugged, and Twilight grinned and clapped her hooves happily. “There! See? Isn’t it nice to just sit and talk things out and come to an understanding, rather than being bitter and angry?” “Yeah, yeah.” As the two parted, Twinkleshine rolled her eyes but had a smile on her face. “So, what have we learned?” Twilight looked at Twinkleshine expectantly. Twinkleshine rolled her eyes again. “Watch my mouth and know when to shut up.” “And?” “Everypony says things they don’t mean when they’re angry, don’t take it personally.” “And?” Twinkleshine frowned. “And, what?” “And, if you two are going to argue like children, I’m going to sit you down like children and make you talk it out.” Lemon burst out laughing and was quickly joined by Twilight and Twinkleshine. After several moments the laughter died down and Lemon grinned. “I can’t say it didn’t help.” “Yeah, thanks Mom.” “Don’t you talk back to me, young lady!” Twilight quipped. The three giggled again. Twinkleshine held her head and breathed deeply. “At least we can start the next school week off properly tomorrow, as friends again.” “Right.” Lemon looked behind her at the clock over the door. “That reminds me. Not to be a downer, but I actually should be going. I was going to meet Minuette for lunch and was supposed to be there now, but I stopped by and then all this happened…” “Actually,” Twilight began, “Twinkleshine, you said you have nothing to do today, right?” “No.” “Perfect.” Twilight smiled widely at Lemon. “If you don’t mind, can we join you? I think we could all use a little fresh air and time together.” “Of course!” Lemon nodded eagerly. “You know Minuette won’t mind.” Twinkleshine raised a hoof. “What about Luster and Moondancer?” “I think they’re both studying today,” Twilight replied. “And I don’t think either would care for it if we showed up suddenly expecting them to come along.” She moved to the night stand on her side of the bed and levitated her change purse from the drawer, then moved to the dresser to retrieve her saddle bags. “Good point.” Twinkleshine lifted a smaller saddle bag from next to her bed and slung it around her neck. “So, where exactly are we going?” Lemon’s face brightened. “Minnie and I were going to try this wrap place we saw down on Shaffron Avenue, ‘The Oasis’.” She did a double take. “Um, it’s a pretty veggie heavy menu, if you don’t want to eat there we–” Twinkleshine held up a hoof. “I like wraps fine. I’ll find something that works for me.” Twilight gestured to the door. “After you two.” She watched, trying to hide the big smile on her face as the two approached the door, idly chatting about potential lunch options. Twilight opened her eyes and saw a sky full of stars twinkling overhead. “‘Sup.” She turned her head and saw Sunset Shimmer laying on the grass a few hooves away, her legs crossed and her hooves beneath her head. The two were on the grass of the SGU campus between the student housing and the Royal Archives. “Hello.” Twilight stood up and moved closer to her. “How are things?” Sunset rocked her head, red and yellow swirls shaking against amber fur. “Dull weekend. Friends all busy with their own stuff, spent my time hanging out in my dorm waiting for the day to end.” She looked over at Twilight and smiled. “Good to see you, though. End the weekend on a high note.” “Thank you.” Twilight felt her face heat up and kept it out of sight by lying next to Sunset, careful to keep distance between them in case they accidentally brushed against each other. She scanned the stars and inhaled. “I had to sort out a couple friendship problems on my end. But, I did sort them out, so I feel good. Tomorrow is a brand new day and a brand new week.” “Good to hear.” Sunset shuffled and crossed her legs the other way. “I’ll be making up for mine after class, my friends and I are meeting up to go to some community theater performance that’s being put on in the park.” She gave a small laugh. “One of them is excited that she got permission to do a warm-up act before the show. So of course she assumes we’ll all be there to support her and if we aren’t she’ll ask why.” “Meeting up…” Twilight pushed her torso up. “I want to meet you.” Sunset looked back at her. “Eh?” “I want to meet you.” “Uh, we’re right here.” “No, I mean, really meet.” Twilight swept a hoof across the campus. “I’ve tried everything I can think of to find you myself, but there’s nothing. I want to figure this out, and the logical, simplest next step, is to arrange a meet-up in real life.” “Real life…” Sunset furrowed her brow as she stared back at Twilight. “That’s a bit weird to hear coming from you…” She shrugged. ‘I guess. Okay, where?” Twilight looked around the grass. “There, that tree.” She pointed to a tall, old oak tree near the side of the dorms. “Right under that tree. Tomorrow morning, before classes.” “I’m a late riser, I don’t know if I have time before class.” “That’s fine, we’ll just say hi and meet up later in the day. But we will know to be there tomorrow morning. And...” She may not recognize me or my name. “We’ll have a notebook floating in front of us, so we know it’s us.” “Is there going to be a crowd of ponies to look for each other in?” “Just in case. Trust me.” “Okay.” Sunset leaned her head back. “I guess, I’ll be there. What time?” “What time works for you?” “With time left to get to class, I can be there around ten to nine or so.” “How about a quarter to nine, just in case one of us is late and we need the time.” “Sure.” Twilight fell back. “Yes!” She took a breath. “To make sure we’ve both got it straight: tomorrow, eight forty-five, by the tree, we meet up.” “Sounds like a date to me.” “Good.” Twilight let out her breath. She paused as she realized what Sunset said. “And, no, not a date, just meeting.” “I know. If you wanted to ask me out, it’d probably be sometime in the afternoon.” “I didn’t mean it like that!” Twilight sputtered and jerked upright again to see Sunset grinning madly, which then turned to laughter at Twilight’s reaction. “I’m kidding, settle down.” “I’m not!” Twilight looked at her firmly. “I’m one hundred percent serious. You’ll be there tomorrow morning, right?” Sunset’s laughter stopped. “Yes, I’ll be there.” “Promise?” Sunset seemed a bit annoyed but nodded. “I promise that, short of a fire or somepony breaking my leg, I will be under that tree tomorrow at eight-forty. Five minutes early, even. Okay?” “Yes.” Twilight lay back down and let her tension uncoil. “Thank you.” “I don’t get why this is important, but clearly it is, so I’ll be there.” Twilight nodded, not sure if Sunset could see her. The two fell into silence, staring up at the stars. Twilight heard none of the usual nighttime sounds of crickets and the wind. Just the low, steady breathing of the pony next to her, and her own. Twilight looked up at the night sky and began mentally mapping out the familiar constellations. As she did so, she furrowed her brow. Wait... “Sunset?” “Hm?” “Does… something feel… ‘off’, to you?” “Like how?” “I don’t know.” Twilight sighed. “It… nevermind.” Two friends laying on the grass beneath the stars, the light of the moon shining down on them, the night quiet and still. She looked at the moon and blinked. Something isn’t right. Twinkleshine finished rinsing her bowl in the sink. “You’re in a rush today.” She glanced over her shoulder. By her bed, Twilight pulled her saddle bags on and flipped the coverings over the school supplies inside. “I have to check on something before class. I’ll be there on-time, promise. Just, heading out now, okay?” “Sure. See ya.” Twinkleshine wiped out the bowl with a towel as Twilight pulled open the door of the dorm room and trotted down the hall. Eight-forty. Ahead of time. Be there first, make sure she doesn’t get there, not see me and leave. Several students grumbled as Twilight pushed through them to get down the stairs of the dorms quicker; she ignored them and kept moving. She has to be there. She has to be. She has to be. When she made it out the front doors Twilight broke into a run down the steps and made a direct left to head onto the grass. With students focused on getting to classes, the grounds outside of the main concourse were almost entirely bare. A hooffull of students sat in pairs or alone, reading or chatting, but there was nopony by the tree against the side of the building. Twilight looked around the students. None of them were very close to her as she approached the tree. We said by the tree, she confirmed it. She wouldn’t be all the way out there. She isn’t here yet. Satisfied, she nodded, turned to face the concourse, and sat down. The mobs of students heading into the SGU main building were still thick, and Twilight scanned the nearest ponies for any that seemed like they might be turning off to come towards her. When one did her face brightened, but she waited – the pony looked in a different direction and called out and waved her hoof forward. Twilight turned her head and saw two stallions stand up and trot towards the mare, and the three returned to the mob. Sunset.. come on… please, you promised… She waited. And waited. Without a watch or a clock, she couldn’t be sure how long. But when the mob thinned, Twilight’s pulse quickened. Where is she? She turned her head and saw a couple of the smaller groups of students leaving. She ran up to one of them. “Excuse me?” The two stopped, and a mare with a pale blue coat and a curled pink and white mane looked at her. “Yes?” “Do you have the time?” The other pony, a stallion with a white mane and red coat, lifted a hoof and looked at his watch. “Ah, about eight fifty-one. No, fifty-two.” “You’re sure?” Twilight strained. The mare nodded. “He checks that thing every other morning. He’s paranoid he’ll be ten seconds late.” “I am not!” The stallion glanced at Twilight. “Sorry, we have to be going.” The two set off towards the SGU, leaving Twilight to look between the tree and the concourse. She could just be late… really late… she ran to the concourse, now almost entirely empty, and looked around; looking for anypony that wasn’t gravitating towards the SGU. She looked at the street, at the chariot drop-off, and then at the door to the dorms. There were no ponies running in from the street, no one descending the stairs of the drop-off, and as a stallion emerged from the dorms and sprinted across the walkway, the door swung closed behind him and remained that way. She was alone.