Twilight’s first impression of the Inn of the Two Sisters was that it was rather bland. There was also something about the lack of care and commitment of the builders and/or interior decorators. The walls were plastered with an ugly floral patterned wallpaper one might see on a stereotypical tourist’s shirt. And the furniture lacked elegance. Rather than having a beautiful lobby that would entice any who stumble upon it, there was a dreary and bleak plain some might mistake for purgatory. It was like having every single depressed and dejected thought one could conjure, and putting them into the mind of the interior decorator who so obviously hated his/her existence. Even the carpet looked miserable, being trampled on or having hooves scrape across your face would do that to an inanimate piece of furniture.
After Twilight ceased her mental criticisms she noticed she wasn't alone. Celestia’s personal courier, also known as Philomena, looked at Twilight, squarked affirmatively, then pulled out one of her feathers and started to write on the ground in what can only be described as liquid fire. But as the phoenix wrote, the so called ink didn't melt through the floor. The only explanation Twilight came up with was, simply, magic. When Philomena stopped writing, Twilight read the letter’s contents:
To my most faithful student,
I am sorry I couldn’t meet you at the inn, I had to deal with the delegation from Griffonia, they are very malicious, and wanted to expand into Equestria. I also fear another war might break out now that I have denied them their expansion.
Our new meeting location will be Doughnut Joe’s. It’s a small doughnut shop just outside of the royal palace. Meet me there tomorrow at noon and don't tell anyone, not even your friends.
Sincerely
Princess Celestia
Twilight looked up at Philomena, but all she saw was the red feather Philomena used to write the inscription, then Twilight looked back toward the letter and found that it too had vanished from existence. Twilight stared at a rather dull painting of what she supposed was the owner of this establishment. Twilight had no answers, just more questions, and this made her extremely angry, but she daren't scream or punch the wall because she was a guest of this inn. And as much as a hole in the wall might improve it’s appearance, Twilight didn't have the patience to deal with a royal guard asking her to “go downtown” with him.
“Why does being princess Celestia’s personal student have to be so hard?!” Twilight whined, then she heard stirring from behind the reception desk, and remembered the green mare that passed out over an hour ago.
The pale green mare stood up and tried to adjust her eyes to her environment. She was still at the inn, that was obvious. The not-so-obvious thing in the room started to approach her. Realising her guest was the source of her passing out, she sighed, and then said, with no conviction,
“Can I help you? Or are you gonna start talking gibberish again?” The mare said with irritation in her voice.
“Um, I was actually looking for a room to stay in for the night. Do you have any?” Twilight replied.
“Well, we do have a servant room available, or the basement.” The mare gave Twilight a wicked grin. “Do either of those interest you?”
Twilight sighed, then looked at the mare pleadingly. “Are you sure there aren't any other rooms available?”
The Mare looked Twilight right in the eyes and chuckled.
“Gotcha! You should have seen the look on your face, priceless. There’s an empty suite on the second floor, you can have that one.” The mare looked at the register. “It’s 20 bits a night.”
Twilight smiled at the mare. “Oh! I guess you got me.The room sounds perfect!”
The mare smiled back and said. “That'll be 20 bits then please.”
“Certainly!” Twilight said joyously as she pulled out 20 bits from her saddlebag. Just as Twilight was about to head upstairs the mare grabbed Twilight’s shoulder and said.
“Just to be clear, Nightmare Moon was here, and she was laughing maniacally.”
Twilight laughed and gave up trying to explain Luna’s situation with the public.
“Yes she was, and then you passed out.”
“Oh yeah, I guess I did.” The mare smiled sheepishly.
Twilight headed up the stairs and went off to bed, while the mare sat at the desk, reading Playcolt magazine. Nothing happened that night, well, nothing except Twilight having a rather strange dream.
Twilight stared into an abyss, wondering what was at the end of it all. She had two theories as to what might be at the edge of this nothingness, the first being some form of heaven, and the second being some other dimension. The first theory was probably what Twilight’s mother might have suggested if she were present. And the second was because, for the second time, magic. Twilight thought there might be other worlds out there, but she didn't know for sure. It didn't matter what Twilight thought at this point, because she seemed to have woken from her slumber.
Twilight was taken aback by this dream, not because she could remember every little detail of it, but because she had no idea what it was or why it left such a dent in her memory. Twilight had no idea where she was or why she was there, in fact, Twilight didn't know anything. She looked up and noticed she was a unicorn, but she didn't know any spells. The only thing Twilight remembered was that she had to meet princess Celestia, but she couldn't remember why.
The journey out of her bed proved quite the impossible task, not remembering how to use your legs would give it that effect. A ripped to shreds bed sheet and a rather sweaty unicorn later, Twilight was out of bed. Any attempt at walking might prove even harder than getting out of bed, so Twilight decided to shuffle along the floor using her chin to provide the momentum, at least she knew how to use her jaw.
Twilight got to the edge of the stairs before she realised the only way for her to get down said stairs was to fall down each step and smack her chin against them. Before Twilight decided to act on her plan, she saw the mare at the desk, with a very amused look on her face.
"What are you doing?" Asked the mare.
"What does it look like I'm doing. I'm trying to get down these infernal stairs." Replied Twilight.
"Well you're not doing a very good job." The mare pointed out.
"Thanks for information. As if I didn't already know that I am doing a poor job of descending a simple staircase." Said Twilight angrily.
After some thought, Twilight made the assumption to twist her body in a way that would let her go down the steps on her haunches, and not her chin. When Twilight got into position, she pushed forward and bumped down each step like she used to do as a foal.
"Wait!" Exclaimed Twilight.
The mare jumped back in surprise. "What? What is it?"
Twilight got to her hooves instantly. "I remembered!"
The mare looked at Twilight inquisitively. "Remembered what?"
"How to walk!"
The mare just stared at Twilight. "You're telling me you forgot how to walk?"
Twilight shifted slightly. "Well...Maybe. But that's not important. What is important is that I remembered."
The mare just shrugged it off. "Sure, whatever."
Twilight wondered how she forgot in the first place. It's not everyday you forget the basic motor functions of the equine body. Especially if that particular equine body belongs to you. But I'm sure she'll find out soon enough. Hopefully. Princess Celestia has been acting very strange lately. Why can't she tell any of her friends about this. After all, It is just a test. Isn't it? Is Celestia hiding something? Is there even a test? Why is that mare still staring at her? Wait. That mare is still staring at her.
Twilight waved a hoof in front of the mare's face. "Hello? This seems to be a recurring theme for you, doesn't it?."
The mare blinked wildly. "Uh...What did you say?"
Twilight laughs quietly. "Nothing. I think I'm going to head out now. Thank you for the room, I very much enjoyed my stay."
The mare refocusses. "Uh, sure. No problem. Anytime. See you later." After that the mare walks off into a room Twilight didn't know existed until just now.
"That mare sure is weird. I think she needs some friends, unless she already has some, in which case, she needs better friends." Twilight said to nopony in particular. Twilight set off for Doughnut Joe's. This time Celestia chose a meeting place Twilight knew quite well. So that's good. I guess.