Visitors
Twilight galloped through the twisting hallways of Canterlot Castle after her mentor. Up the stairs, down the hallway, and towards Celestia’s bedchambers she galloped, calling her name all the while. Although her wings flared, she didn’t take to the air after her. Nor did she spark her horn to teleport or halt the fleeing alicorn.
“Celestia! Celestia, wait!”
With her heart hammering in her chest, Twilight kept up as best as she could. While sweat began to trickle down her neck and forehead throughout the pursuit, Princess Celestia appeared to be as fresh as a rose. In between gasps for breath, Twilight called out to her again, to no avail.
“What’s wrong? Celestia, please!”
Never before had she seen Princess Celestia like this—running wild, like a timberwolf navigating through a maze of apple trees. Nor had Twilight seen her so angry as when Orion had spat those hateful words with malice in his eyes.
Celestia’s hooves led her several levels up the Castle with ease. Twilight realized that they were headed towards the Royal chambers. She would’ve sighed in relief if she’d had the spare breath to do so.
When Night Watch came into view—wide-eyed and jaw agape—Celestia slowed her hooves at last, skidding to a halt just before her door.
Twilight, panting, joined her side. “Ce… Celestia… Are you—"
“Your Highness! Are you alright?” Night Watch stepped towards Princess Celestia, darting his eyes all around the hallway. He shifted to Twilight. “Your Highness, are you two in danger?”
Twilight shook her head. “No, nothing like that. It’s just—”
Princess Celestia met her guard’s eyes. “Night Watch…”
“Yes, Your Highness?” The stallion leaned against his weapon, trembling before his Princess.
Celestia took a deep breath and opened the door with her magic. “Unless it is my sister or Captain Ironhoof, please turn away any visitor for the remainder of the afternoon.”
Locking eyes with Twilight, Celestia trotted through the threshold, motioning her to follow.
“Yes, Your Highness! Of course!” Night Watch stood tall, picking his jaw off the floor and returning to his previous, vigilant stance.
Confused, Twilight looked from the guard to Celestia, still slowly catching her breath. Celestia held the door open with her aura, waiting inside.
A thousand questions battled for dominance in Twilight’s mind when she passed through the doors and entered her mentor’s chamber. When Celestia closed the door behind them, Twilight could only stare up at her.
At her student’s immediate silence, Celestia lowered her gaze to the floor, shaking her head. “Twilight… I…
“I’m so sorry.”
Twilight trotted up to her. “Sorry?”
Celestia sat down on her haunches, sighing. Once Twilight reached her, she extended a wing and brushed her shoulder with her wingtips, avoiding her eyes. “I’m sorry that I lost my temper like that. That I…”
As she bit her lip, Celestia looked around her room. Her sun was shining brightly on this pristine day, rising up against Mount Canterlot. Not a cloud could be found in the sky, nor any pegasi to accompany them.
“That I lost control,” Celestia said, retracting her wing. After taking a deep breath, she shook her head and looked at Twilight at last. “That was very foalish of me, and I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
Watching her in silence, Twilight gave a heavy sigh of her own. I can’t exactly judge; I’ve been there, done that, almost started a riot in Ponyville over my Smarty Pants doll. And that’s not counting all the other little things…
As the silence became somewhat stifling, Celestia spoke up again, scraping the floor with a forehoof. “It’s just—”
“Yes?” Twilight asked a little too loudly. She recoiled at her own word and shook her head. “S-sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s alright, Twilight.” Celestia glanced out the windows behind them before returning to Twilight. “It’s just, I, well—”
A flash of purple magic materialized between them. In the blink of an eye, Princess Luna stood between her sister and Twilight, her wings flared, her eyes wide with concern as she spun around to face Celestia.
“Ah, there you are, Luna,” Celestia said, bowing her head with a slight sigh.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. How—
Luna laid a forehoof on Celestia’s shoulder. “Tia! Are you alright?”
“I am fine, Lulu,” Celestia answered evenly, gently brushing her forehoof away.
Furrowing her brow, Luna paused, staying silent. She then turned and faced Twilight, her muzzle a mix of confusion and relief. “And you, Twilight?”
Perplexed, Twilight nodded. “Yes, I’m fine, though a little confused.”
“Confused about what?” Luna asked, giving Celestia a sideways glance.
Sitting up a little straighter, Celestia sparked her horn again, reaching for the teapot and teacups on the coffee table with her aura. She busied herself for a few moments with the remaining tea in the pot. After reheating it, Celestia poured out three cups. “I shall explain shortly. First, would either of you like some tea?”
They nodded. Princess Celestia levitated the teacups over. The three sipped at their cups for a few long, arduous minutes.
Twilight studied her mentor’s muzzle in the quiet, noting that, while she was beginning to sound more chipper, Celestia still appeared distraught. The fire in her eyes had not been fully extinguished, and she seemed at once old and mortal. Luna, too, seemed unusually reserved, keeping her eyes on her sister in the silence.
Setting her teacup down, Twilight broke her silence. “Well, er… I am not upset or anything, Celestia. Please don’t worry. After all… You still didn’t react as badly as I did when I forgot to send you a Friendship Report a few years ago…” With a blush and a grin, she rubbed her nape and looked away. “Eh, heh, heh…”
Celestia said with a slight smile, “I remember that. If it wasn’t for Spike’s letter, there might have been a few interesting reports coming out of Ponyville after that day.”
Twilight chuckled again. “Eh, heh, heh… Yeah, I suppose so…”
Celestia sipped her tea. “Yes. Anyway…” As her smile turned into a stern frown, she continued, “I should not have lost my temper that way. Orion may be a very vocal prisoner, but he is not the first one to have had an outburst like that. I should have kept myself in check, and I am sorry that both of you had to witness that.”
Celestia sighed. “I suppose I will have to check on Blueblood later this evening and make sure that he is alright. He deserves an apology as well.”
Twilight inwardly rolled her eyes. Like he cares… He’s almost always holed up in his room anyway. He certainly didn’t help things today.
“Your apology is not necessary, but it is accepted, sister. I just wanted to make sure you were alright,” Luna said. “After you left, I instructed Ironhoof to ensure that Orion was put back in his cell, and directed Flash Sentry to escort Bright Quill back to her quarters.”
“Very good. Were there any members of the press waiting for us, Lulu?”
Luna shook her muzzle. “I do not believe so. Though, when they arrive—and they will—I shall handle them, if you like.”
Holding up a forehoof, Celestia shook her head in return. “No, I shall see to them myself. I have no doubt that this trial will be reported, and, if so… I want my own words about what transpired today to be included.”
With a slow nod, Luna said, “Very well, sister.”
A warm smile curled across Celestia’s muzzle when she turned back to Twilight. “In spite of everything, you did a fantastic job today, Twilight. I knew you would,” she said, her eyes shining.
A tinge of pink dotted Twilight’s cheeks. “Thank you, Pr—Celestia.” She laughed and sipped at her tea. “It wasn’t as bad as I figured it would be. Though…” Her muzzle fell. “I know that the actual trial will be just as difficult, if not more. Orion seems hostile every time I speak to him… and I don’t know why.”
Celestia began, “Twilight, it is—”
”Most definitely not your fault!”
Three muzzles snapped towards the ceiling. A zipper split the fabric of reality, opening to reveal a finely dressed Discord. In suit and tie, the laughing draconequus hovered down into the midst of their circle, holding a gem-pommeled cane in his claws. An oversized top hat completed his outfit.
Once Discord’s legs touched the floor, he gestured wildly with his cane. “Come one, come all, to the Royal Canterlot Circus! Featuring such acts as: Orion, the perpetually disgruntled noble! Watch him turn water into whine!”
Popping the diamond off his cane like a bottlecap, Discord grinned and snapped his claws. A goblet appeared in his paw. To the amusement of all three, he poured it full of words written in new Equestrian—”tantrum,” “haughty,” and “tyrant” among them.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “How did you—”
“Don’t humor him, Twilight.” Celestia glared at him. “Discord, this is a bad time.”
Discord snorted and leaned back, looking up at her upside-down. “Oh, when is it ever a good time for you, Celly?”
“Just let him finish, Tia,” Luna said with a half-snort, half-chuckle. “Besides, aren’t we all in need of a good laugh right now?”
With a tip of his hat, Discord nudged Luna in the shoulder playfully. “That’s the spirit! Who’s got the spirit? Luna does!”
While two of the three laughed, Discord began to swing his cane around as he continued his monologue. “The next act: Prince Blueblood, the haughty savant who mocks the absurdity of his position and ordeal! Watch in awe as he curses his own standing and makes a general buffoon of himself!”
Despite the insult towards her nephew, Luna managed a giggle. Twilight couldn’t hide a snicker of agreement.
Celestia’s glare only intensified. “Discord…”
The cane nearly smashed Princess Celestia’s teacup when Discord turned around to face her. His eyebrows wiggled in time with the rise and fall of his words. “And, for our third act, Princess Celestia! The ruler with a fuse shorter than my goatee!”
Before Celestia could react, Discord snapped his claws again. His regal outfit disappeared, leaving him in all his chaotic glory. Laughing, he stretched out to full length, thinning himself to mimic a thread.
A pair of comically oversized scissors opened and rested against Discord’s back, each blade threatening to cut him in half. “Ooh! Somepony’s called Ol’ Celly a tyrant! Watch what happens to her little thread!”
The scissors cut Discord cleanly in half, leaving two segments of draconequus, each howling in laughter.
Though it was lewd at best and disturbing at worst, Twilight couldn’t help but allow a little giggle to escape her. Princess Luna, however, seemed unamused, her previous grin flipped into a scowl. Princess Celestia’s right eye twitched as she stared daggers at the wicked jester, her hooves trembling with palpable anger.
“Discord, that is enough,” Luna said with an icy glare, a similar cold in her words. “There is humor, and there is mockery. You have crossed that line.”
The snipped draconequus smashed his halves together and hovered up straight, crossing his forearms. “Oh, please!” He scoffed. “All of it is comedy. You know I mean no harm.”
“Are you sure about that?” Luna gestured to her irritated sister. “This is a serious matter, Discord! None of us deserve the venom thrown our way by this… noble.”
“It really isn’t that funny,” Twilight said in a low voice. “And Discord…”
“Yes?” he asked, batting his eyelashes.
“If you don’t stay on your best behavior, I’ll have no choice but to tell Fluttershy that you’re mistreating our friends. And you wouldn’t want that, now, would you?” Twilight asked with a smirk.
Discord brought his paw to his muzzle and rubbed it, sighing. “No, I would not. I’d rather not have to deal with that damned rabbit of hers again.”
“Then leave us be, or sit and be quiet,” Luna ordered.
With another snap of his claws, Discord magicked a large cushion and glass of chocolate milk into his grasp. After setting the cushion down, taking his seat, and biting into his treat, he zipped his lips shut and threw away a tiny, silver key.
Once Discord appeared to have given into silence, Princess Celestia gave a long sigh and turned to Twilight. “Unfortunately, Discord was right. At least at the beginning. None of this is your fault, Twilight, or any of ours.
“Orion is a noble of the highest stature. He is well-versed in our laws and should know better. Why he is doing this, I do not know. However, we should all ensure that we are on our best behavior and at our best demeanor for the true trial. That includes myself.”
Discord crunched loudly on his milk and stroked his goatee.
Celestia eyed him from her peripherals. “Twilight, unless you are opposed to doing so, I would like you to lead the trial next month, just as you led today’s hearing.”
Twilight finished her tea, then pushed the cup away. “Well… I don’t see why not,” she said, hesitance in her tone.
I know that he’s being tried for assault, not for anything else. But… something just doesn’t feel… right.
“Do not feel pressured, Twilight,” Luna began. “When I first… returned, Tia here also gave me the primary court duties in order to bring me back… up to speed.” After a short pause, she continued, “If you do not wish to do so, please, let us know. However, you do have four weeks, so that should help.”
Twilight smiled and rose to her hooves. “Thank you, Luna, Celestia,” she said with a nod towards both of them. “To be perfectly honest, I really don’t understand this whole thing—”
“The sequence of the trial?” Celestia asked.
Twilight shook her head. “No. This… this whole thing, I guess. I mean… I understand the order, but…”
Discord crunched even louder on his milk, licking his claws as he finished the treat.
“I guess I just don’t see why he is opposing this so fervently. The order is for the good of us all.” Right?
“Not all ponies are understandable, Twilight,” Celestia explained, “or worth understanding.”
Discord snickered.
The three turned to him, one of them with narrowed eyes.
Shaking his head, Discord stretched out and laid his paw on his belly. “Just keep telling yourself that, Celestia.”
Twilight saw the same glint in her mentor’s eyes that had shone when Orion had thundered those terrible words towards her. She couldn’t exactly put her hoof on why, but sensed a change in the atmosphere—a storm brewing.
Anticipating an argument to come, Twilight took a step back and coughed. Luna and Celestia tore their eyes from Discord and his grin. “If you would excuse me, please… I think I need a little alone time. To decompress.
The spark in Celestia’s eyes extinguished immediately. “Of course, Twilight. Please, feel free to take the rest of the afternoon off,” she said, her expression softening. “I advised Captain Ironhoof this morning that, if things went sour, Royal Court would be closed for the remainder of the day. And I believe that today qualifies as sour.”
After wishing both of them well, Twilight left Princess Celestia’s chambers. She neglected to say farewell to Discord. Whether it was out of anger towards him or merely an act of forgetfulness, she wasn’t sure.
Her mind buzzing, Twilight made a beeline for the Royal Canterlot Archives.
~
After escorting Bright Quill to her room, Flash Sentry returned to his room and tucked his spear away. There, no kind stallion waited to meet him with a cheerful inquiry. Instead, he discovered a note left on his nightstand. He recognized the hoofwriting as Captain Ironhoof’s and read it aloud.
”The remainder of Royal Court has been cancelled for today. Do not speak of the events of today’s hearing to anypony. If approached by the media, give the mandated response.”
Flash crumpled the note and tossed it into his wastebasket. What’s there to say? The one stallion I thought I could sympathize with acted like a fool yet again?
Shaking his head, Flash continued to wade through his thoughts. At first, it was understandable, his anger. Even when I had my spear to his throat, even when I brought my forehoof to his face.
But now, it just goes to show…
He scowled, unwilling to finish any of the axioms he despised, even in his thoughts.
Orion had far more than Flash Sentry could ever dream of possessing or being. Even so, he felt no sympathy for the disgraced noble after today’s performance. The fact that he still had all of his teeth after spitting in Ironhoof’s face was a small miracle.
Flash considered going flying, or perhaps meeting up with Steel Wind and Sharp Spear, but decided against both. The possibility of reading presented itself when he glanced towards his closet, noting many book that he had left half-finished or untouched. That, too, seemed unappealing.
Bewilderment over Orion’s behavior dominating his mind, Flash Sentry chose to keep his armor and left his room, locking it behind him.
With no destination in mind, he wandered throughout the halls of Canterlot Castle, up the stairs and down. The rigidity of his duties, while monotonous and numbing at times, allowed him contemplation and mental escape. This week’s events had challenged that.
As Flash passed through corridors he had patrolled and guarded for over five years, he saw them in a new light.
From basic training to this day, I’ve done my best, listened to every order, taken on extra duties. That… incident a few days ago is the only thing I can think of that has marred my record. That… and breaking the spear, but—
From the corner of his eye, a small, lithe figure skittered through a hallway.
Flash Sentry spun around and started towards it. The unsteady rhythm of hoofsteps drew further and further away from him, towards the stairs. The stairs that led to the Royal Courtroom.
He picked up his pace and turned the corner. At the end of the corridor, a cloaked figure scurried away, keeping light on its sporadic hoofsteps. It paused, glancing around.
Flash called out, “Halt! Who goes there?”
The cloaked figure ceased its sweeping gaze and froze, then spun around to face him. Though he lacked his weapon, Flash hurried over, tensing his muscles and puffing out his chest. An intruder in the daytime?
As he drew closer, he realized that the intruder was no stranger.
A pale-green mare’s meek eyes widened when he approached. She ran a forehoof through her mane, a slightly darker shade of green, and began backing up rapidly. Her hindhooves soon met the stone wall behind her, trapping her into a corner.
Flash Sentry stopped a few feet in front of her, meeting her eyes.
She seemed to flinch almost instinctively when his gaze locked with hers. “P-please… I just want to see my husband.”
The timid mare pulled the cowl of her cloak down to hide her eyes, appearing to wince whenever Flash looked directly at her. Nevertheless, he could see her darting her gaze beneath her disguise, looking frantically for an escape route.
He held out a forehoof as he approached the corner. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
She peeked her head out from beneath the cowl, shivering.
Flash sighed. “Please, believe me. I’m not going to hurt you, Clover.”
Clover gasped and pressed her back against the wall, sliding down to her haunches.
What is she doing here? More skittish than a foal… Regardless, I’m going to have to be gentle with her if I want any answers.
Bowing his head slightly, Flash said again, “I’m not going to hurt you.” As he rose, he stuck out his forehoof again. “You can stand up. Please, you look lost. Let me help you.”
Clover whimpered and looked at the forehoof, then at Flash Sentry, then back to his forehoof. Her hooves cracked audibly against the floor as she stood up, so violent was their trembling. After grabbing his forehoof, she pulled herself to a normal stance.
Flash leaned in closer to whisper after ensuring that they were alone in this passageway. “How did you get here? Did you sneak in?”
Clover flinched and took a step back. “N-no, s-sir…”
“How are you wandering around here unescorted, then?”
She shook her head. “I-I dunno, s-sir…”
Flash sighed. “Where is the guard who was supposed to escort you? All visitors must be escorted, from the front gates and through their entire visit. Are you sure you didn’t sneak in?”
Clover pulled her cowl back and turned to face him at last. At first, Flash noticed the tears welling in her eyes. Frowning, he opened his mouth to speak, wanting to calm her. As his gaze wandered, however, he stopped mid-breath.
A dark, deep-purple bruise adorned her cheek. It looked fresh.
Bringing a forehoof up to cover the bruise, Clover looked away from him again. “I… I went in the front way, but…”
“Did some guard hit you?” Flash demanded, his nostrils flaring. Anger began to seethe within him. If she’s entered unlawfully, that’s one thing, but if somepony hit her without provocation, if somepony is going around here assaul—
“No! No, no!” Clover raised her forehooves and backed away from him. “No, no, sir!”
“Where did you get that, then? Is that why you were wearing the cloak?”
She nodded, biting her lip. “Y-yes, sir. I... I don’t want my husband to see.”
“Where did you get that?” he asked again.
Shuffling on her hooves, Clover didn’t answer at first. She stared everywhere but at Flash Sentry, attempting to withdraw her hooves and make herself look small. When it became evident that he was not leaving, she finally spoke.
“After the audience a few days go, when he was arrested, I… I went back home, and…” She trailed off, letting out a whimper.
Flash exhaled heavily, gritting his teeth.
Clover shook her head and looked up at him again, her eyes slowly widening. “You… you were the guard there, by the door.”
He nodded.
She bit her lip and looked away again.
Flash Sentry sighed and took another step towards her. “Clover, if you did not get in through the front gates, you are trespassing. Trespassing is a very serious offense. Now, I’m going to give you a chance to tell me how you got in here before I—”
“I did go through the front gate, I swear, sir!” Clover exclaimed with a jolt, rising up to her hindhooves again. As she leaned against the wall, she continued, “I told the guard there I wanted to see my husband, in the dungeons. He told me that he could let me in but I would need to wait in the main courtyard. He said somepony would come escort me down there. I waited, and I w-waited, but…
“Nopony came, and only a few minutes ago, I d-decided to try and f-find it myself.”
While she trembled before him, flinching again at his gaze, Flash stepped away and groaned inwardly. So, she was allowed in, but nopony came to assist her… I’m pretty sure I know why.
Sighing, he stuck out his forehoof. “Come on. I’ll take you back to the courtyard.”
“Y-you’re not going to—”
“Come with me before I change my mind,” Flash said with a furrow of his brow.
With a vigorous nod, Clover grabbed his forehoof. After pulling the mare to her hooves, Flash gestured towards the stairs. “The Royal Courtroom is up there. The hearing was today.”
“I know, sir,” Clover said, following beside him as they began to trot. “H-how did he do?”
Flash Sentry stayed silent.
“He pled innocent, didn’t he?”
His only response was to turn the corner, nudging with his muzzle for her to do the same.
Clover sighed quietly, but didn’t say anything more.
By the time the pair reached the front courtyard of Canterlot Castle, they were no longer alone. Passing Royal Guards gave Flash Sentry and his cloaked visitor strange looks. Thankfully, none of them said a word, making their own ways to their posts or quarters.
Here, Flash noted, several other visitors waited for a guard to escort them throughout the castle. A few guards patrolled this central square. One of them rushed over as Flash guided Clover to the center.
“Flash Sentry!” The guard greeted him with a smile, then frowned when he saw Clover. “Who is this?”
Clover yelped and took a step back as the other guard glanced at her.
Stepping in front of her, Flash said, “Vigilance, this mare was supposed to have been escorted to the dungeons for a visit, but nopony arrived to help her.” He snorted and glared at him.
Vigilance raised an eyebrow. “Nopony told her that the dungeons wouldn’t be accepting any visitors today?”
Flash raised an eyebrow of his own. “No. Why would that be the case?”
“Captain’s orders.”
Fighting the urge to grimace, Flash merely replied, “I see.”
“Yes. I apologize for that miscommunication,” Vigilance said, addressing Flash rather than Clover. “So… she was trespassing, then?”
Before Clover could even so much as whimper, Flash answered, injecting venom into his words, “No, she was looking for the guard she was promised.”
Somehow, Vigilance’s white muzzle paled. “I-I see.” He coughed, then turned towards Clover at last. “My apologies, ma’am. Please, let me escort you out.”
“B-but!” Clover retreated back into her cowl, hiding her cheek. “Wh-when can I come see him?”
Flash shrugged when Vigilance looked to him, feigning ignorance. “Er… Visiting hours for prisoners shall resume as normal during the weekend,” Vigilance said to Clover. “Thursdays and weekends only, before sunset.”
Clover nodded, her eyes shining in the light.
The guard gestured for Clover to stand beside him. She complied quickly, offering Flash Sentry a slight smile as she passed by him.
“Thank you, Flash,” Vigilance said as he turned away, leading Clover out.
“You’re welcome,” Flash called back.
Once the two were headed towards the gates, Flash turned around.
As he did so, he caught Clover’s eyes again.
Just this once.
~
Within the heart of the Archives, Twilight buried herself in numerous tomes, blowing dust from their pages and squinting through the dying light. Once night fell, she lit a candle in the dark and continued her studying, flipping through page after page.
A servant came at some point and announced that dinner was ready. She declined both his offer of an escort to the Royal Dining Hall and a tray of food from the same supper. A slight case of nausea robbed her of her appetite.
“There must be something more here about Starswirl the Bearded, or any of the pre-Equestrian founders and rulers…”
Twilight closed the book she was reading, adding to a tower of them. With a yawn, she rose to her hooves and stretched her legs and wings. She glanced down at the pile of books and sighed.
Twilight trotted over to the window and looked down at the city of Canterlot and beyond. While it had only been a few months since her coronation, adjusting to the life of a Princess had been both more difficult and easier than she’d expected.
Her friends and mentor treated her primarily the same, other than that incident with the Tree of Harmony. For that, she was grateful. Nonetheless, Twilight had been gone for days or weeks at a time from Ponyville. Canterlot Castle was gradually becoming less of a place to visit, assist, and learn than a place to live.
As she stretched out on the windowsill, Twilight sighed. Some days, I just wish I could be back in Ponyville. I’ve been homesick for a third time in my life now, and it never gets any easier.
Luna’s night was beautiful, as it always was. After she and her friends had defeated Nightmare Moon, revealing Luna’s true self, Twilight always wondered how Luna could have been so jealous. Nopony in their right mind would ever speak ill of the night, no matter how many storms passed through it.
While she traced the mountains and hillsides in the distance, Twilight let her mind wander to this latest conundrum.
There has to be more. There has to be something about pre-Equestria, and Equestria before Celestia and Luna. Something from Starswirl, or Princess Platinum, or Clover the Clever, or even one of the others. Somepony has to know something about the Tree of Harmony, and…
Twilight sighed and shook her head.
As she traced the mountains further, seeing them give way to the spirals of the Crystal Empire in the far distance—the tallest tower of the crystalline castle a mere toothpick in Twilight’s eyes—Twilight gasped.
“How didn’t I think of this before?!” she exclaimed to her shadow.
Clapping her hooves, Twilight hopped down from the windowsill. As excitement rushed through her veins, she began to pace, pace, and pace some more. Visions of a three-tiered library rushed through her mind. Piles, towers, and mountains of books danced before her mind’s eye.
“If the Crystal Empire has books about Sombra and the Crystal Heart, then it could have—”
Twilight gasped and began to hop up and down, clapping her hooves while she giggled to herself.
She had it. Her answer.
After dancing a little joyous jig, Twilight galloped out of the Archives, a plan beginning to form within her mind.