Twilight Sparkle has located Starswirl the Bearded's journal, a document that disappeared along with him at the beginning of the Classical era. This is the Secret history of Starswirl the Banished.
When a mysterious visitor arrives asking for Twilight's research involving Pinkie Sense, she must decide whether to help with or thwart his research. Although the real question is, just how has he managed to not run into Pinkie Pie himself?