> Watching the World Burn
>  by Inkscape
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1 - A Sudden Vacation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inkscape planted her face into her desk. Light shined in through window before her. The angle of Celestia’s sun was only an insult. She had spent the early hours of the afternoon in her study, seated at her writing desk. It had to be at least four in the afternoon now. Nothing. No strike of inspiration came to her. Usually she could come up with something, anything. Even if it sounded stupid in her own mind, ponies liked what she wrote, nevertheless. She glanced at her pale yellow flank, adorned with a cutie mark depicting a pink quill dipped in a black inkpot. A black ink stroke flowed briefly beneath the pot. Today she felt unworthy of the mark. 
        “Celestia, why?!” The pale yellow unicorn sighed, exasperated. “My agent is going to kill me. The publishers want something, anything by next week. An idea, a plot, something, anything!” She groaned and face-planted on the desk again. She never had had writer’s block struck her this hard.
        Inkscape made a living writing, novels mostly, but she would occasionally do some freelance work on the side, as well. Most of her novels were for school-aged fillies and colts. She had written a few small series. Sometimes she would write something that would gain popularity for awhile among the school ponies, but her agent, Critical Eye,  thought she could do something more. Her publishing company saw her potential, and they wanted her to focus on older audiences. Even writing, though an art, was a business, and businesses, especially those in Canterlot, wanted to expand their profit margins. 
        “The ponies want to read what the ponies want to read!” Inkscape repeated in her best, though goofy impersonation of her literary agent, making her voice go low in register. The ponies wanted excitement, originality, romance, etcetera. She could write a romance, an adventure, maybe even a comedy, though she hadn’t tried her hoof at that genre quite yet. Frankly, she was a little afraid to try. It was originality that had her stumped. In the history of the world, there were so many stories, fact and fiction. How could she possibly write something original, new, captivating? Every plot scenario that came into her head had to be dismissed, because she realized it sounded too close to a movie she had seen or a book she had read. 
        “Why can’t I write what I want to write about? Writing what I want to write is easy.” She twirled her quill in the air absentmindedly with the translucent pink magic emanating from her horn. “What I need is some inspiration, to get out of dodge. Something… different.”
        There was a knock at the door.
        “Oh, I wonder who that could be?” The yellow mare said aloud to herself. As if there was any question. 
        She walked over to the door and slammed it open it with her horn.
        “A pleasure as always, Inkscape,” the brown Earth Pony noted with a skeptical look up and down at the bedraggled Inkscape. Her long, pale pink tail and mane, which were usually fashioned straight with product and a bit of her own unicorn magic, were in a mess of unruly waves, each strand making its own path. Hers was the type of hair that could not be left in a natural state, unless put up into a ponytail. 
        “Any luck on that new novel, Inkscape?” Critical Eye continued, brushing past her and inviting himself into the house. “I know you won’t disappoint me.”
        Inkscape sighed, closing the door and pulling out a chair at her living room table, and using her magic to pour herself and her agent a cup of tea. She used her magic to pull out the seat adjacent to her and gestured for him to sit, which he did.
        “Why thank you, lass. Now about that novel….” 
        “Critical Eye, I can’t come up with anything. Not a plot, not a character, nada. They can’t just expect me to drop what I’ve been doing for so long and start writing something different. The young ponies love my stories.”
“But older ponies read more and read bigger books, and bigger books means more money.” He paused, taking a sip of his tea. “You signed the contract.”
 “I know, I know, I know, but I need more time!”
Critical Eye raised a brow, taking another sip. “How much time?”
“I don’t know, enough time to clear the cobwebs from my mind. I need to get out of dodge, get inspired. I just feel like all my originality is… well, gone. Critical, I need a vacation.”
Critical eye scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Well, you are between series right now. No pony is expecting anything immediate from you. I bet I can talk to the publishing company and tell them you need some time to get your great inspiration for their next novel."
She beamed. “You could do that for me? Critical Eye, you are a lifesaver!”
“I can’t afford my favorite client burning out on me, now can I?” He said with a wink. “I’ll talk to the publishers tomorrow, and I’ll tell you what I can get for you.”
“Thanks, Critical Eye, you’re the best!”
“No need telling me what I already know, Ink.” The brown pony joked with a wink.

The following day, Inkscape received a letter from her agent with the news that the publishing company would be willing to give her a few months off in order to find her inspiration again, a bit of a thank you for all of her hard work in the past. Inkscape squealed in excitement, clutching the letter to her and collapsing on the couch. “Vacatioooon!!” She sat up suddenly. “Oh, but where to go?” 					She trotted over to the window, the bustling city of Canterlot laid out before her, ponies pulling carriages, ponies with their mouths, hooves and horns full of shopping bags. Ponies usually came to Canterlot for vacation, but where did one go if they lived in the country’s premier vacation destination? Fillydelphia? Manehatten? No, no. No big cities.Canterlot was big enough for her taste, last thing she needed was to go to an even bigger city. There was no way she could relax in busy places like those.
 “A map.” She decided, walking into her office and opening a drawer on her desk with her horn,  magically pulling out a map of Equestria and laying it flat on the desk. She seated herself and studied it. Somewhere not too terribly far. She wasn’t quite up for traveling clear across the country. The Crystal Empire was something she had always wanted to see, but there was that big city problem again. “Another time.” She assured herself, not looking up from the map.
 “What’s this?” She put a pale yellow hoof on a dot on the map that read Ponyville. “Ponyville, huh? Well it seems like an empty place to me, oh! but look! It’s right by the Everfree Forest and the Palace of the Two Sisters! I’d love to see that!” She beamed. “Ponyville it is then!”

Later that afternoon, Inkscape trotted down to Hoofprint’s Travel Agency. She wasn’t about to trek to Ponyville without first knowing that there was a place for her to stay. She had a hunch that the small town might not have a hotel.
She pushed the door open with a hoof, a bell jingled overhead. A grey unicorn stallion, who was filing paperwork behind the front desk looked up. “Ah, so if it isn’t Inkscape! How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you around in awhile. Those publishers of yours finally giving you a break?”
Inkscape smiled and sighed with a brief chuckle, as she seated herself in front of the counter. “Hoofprint, you have no idea! They want me to start working on books for older ponies, and I have been doing the same thing for so long, I am just lacking any inspiration or fresh ideas.”
Hoofprint leaned forward, seemingly worried. “What? You’re not going to be writing the foal novels anymore? My daughter just loves your work.”
“Oh, no, no! Not forever, I wouldn’t let that happen. I could never let down my biggest, er, littlest fans!” She assured him with a good-natured laugh. 
“Well, that’s good.” He leaned on his forehoof perched on the counter. “So, Miss Inkscape, where were you thinking about going for your vacation?”
“Ponyville.”
“Ponyville?” He asked, incredulous. “Why in Celestia’s name would you want to go there for? There’s nothing there!”
“Exactly!”
He tilted his head. “You’re going to have to elaborate on that.”
“I just need a quiet place where I can relax and hopefully find my creative spark again.” Inkscape explained. 
“Well, if quiet is what you’re going for, Ponyville is definitely the place for you. So what can I do for you? You need transportation? Lodging?”
“I need to know if there’s a place for me to stay in Ponyville. For some reason, I get the feeling that there aren’t many hotels there.”
Hoofprint smiled and nodded. “Your hunch is definitely right on that one, dear. Ponyville doesn’t have a single hotel, motel, or inn in the entire town! Luckily you have me to make some accommodations for you. I can send a message to the mayor and see if anything can be done for you. Come back tomorrow, and I’ll see what I have for you.”
Inkscape smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Hoofprint! Talk to you tomorrow!” She called, as she walked out.
The walk back home was warm, Inkscape thought. These last couple of weeks had been real scorchers, as far as summer days in Canterlot went. The pegasus ponies must not be doing a very good job at maintaining the weather. Not only was it getting sweltering hot outside, but there was a lack of rain as well. Ponies worked hard to keep their gardens watered and green. In canterlot, residents took great pride in their homes, so brown grass and wilting plants would never do. But despite their best efforts, it was easy to tell that the plants in the city were not as healthy as they should have been.
The young unicorn spent that night packing as much as she could. Hoofprint had a reputation for gaining fast results in his line of work, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had found a spot ready for her tomorrow and a bed ready for her in Ponyville tomorrow evening. 
When she had packing away most of her essentials, including her writing materials, she made herself a daffodile sandwich, which she ate outside on her patio in the shade of her umbrella table. She watched the sun slowly descend in the Equestrian sky. She took another bite of her sandwich and wished that Celestia would hurry up and set the sun, so that Luna could raise her moon and bring the refreshing coolness of night. 
The ponies going up and down the road in front of her home visibly looked drained from the heat. Inkscape wished she knew a spell that could give everypony a glass of cold water, or even a mug of cider. Too bad it wasn’t cider season. She could go for a glass of Sweet Apple Acres’ Homemade Apple Cider. Wasn’t that orchard in Ponyville, too? “Maybe I could ask for a tour around the farm.” She wondered out loud to herself. She realised that maybe Ponyville wasn’t quite as boring as ponies around here had made it out to be. The most important thing was that it was a quiet town, a relaxing place, which was just what she needed to get her creative mind working again.  

Inkscape was up early the next morning. She used her magic to take her luggage down to the travel agency. She didn’t have a doubt that Hoofprint had found a place for her to stay. He had never failed to be prompt in all the times she had used his service. Even in the early morning sun, it was already starting to feel warm and sticky.
She dragged her luggage inside the travel agency as the bell overhead jingled upon her entry. Hoofprint grinned ear to ear from behind the counter.
“Smart move, because I found you a place to stay, and I also found you a ride there! I was going to have him pick you up at your house, but he’ll be dropping by here in few minutes for coffee and doughnuts. He’s an old friend of mine. 
Just as he said it, a series of knocks came from the door.
The door opened, jingling the bell overhead. A large and sturdy grey pegasus stallion walked in, a paper bag clenched in his maw. He set the bad down on the counter. Hoofprint wasted no time in pouncing on the bag, pulling out a sprinkled doughnut and taking a large chomp out of it.
“Hey, Hoof, save some for me. I bought them!”
“Oh, shorry, Funder Shtep,” Hoofprint said around a mouthful of pastry. He used the back of his hoof to wipe the stray crumbs and sprinkles from his mouth. “I have the coffee. Let me grab it from the back.”He trotted through a door to the left of the counter. Inkscape could hear the sound of clinking dishes.
The grey stallion turned to Inkscape and smiled. “So you must be the mare I’m taking to Ponyville. I’m Thunder Step.” He offered his hoof, and Inkscape shook it gladly.
“Nice to meet you, Thunder Step. I’m Inkscape.”
He grinned. “Pleasure’s all mine, lass.”
Just then, Hoofprint re-entered with a platter of coffee cups, a small pitcher of cream and a bowl of sugar on it. It was easy to tell that he was focusing very hard not to spill. Inkscape took the platter with her magic, gently taking it from the stallion, who released his grasp on it gratefully.
Inkscape’s pink magic set the platter down on the counter beside the bag of doughnuts.
Hoofprint grinned sheepishly. “Thank you, Inkscape. That could have ended badly.”
        She grinned. “Not a problem, but there’s no shame in taking two trips.”
Hoofprint took a seat behind the counter and helped himself to a cup of coffee. He took it black. “You know that’s not how I think, Ink.”
She smiled and sighed, taking a cup of coffee for herself, adding cream, two spoonfuls of sugar and stirring it in with her horn. 
Without any surprise, Thunder Step took his coffee plain, too. She smiled to herself. Why was it that all the stallions she knew took their coffee black? Maybe it was some weird masculinity thing.
Thunder Step served himself and Inkscape a doughnut, leaving Hoofprint the one with the bite mark in it. 
“So what makes you keen to visit Ponyville?” Thunder Step asked. He took another sip of his coffee. “Just need a bit of recuperation time, while I  try to get my creative spark back. I’ve just had the worst writer’s block as of late.”
Thunder Step raised a brow. “So you’re some kind of writer then?”
“Oh she’s not just some kind of writer,’ Inkscape is famous. My daughter just loves her books, especially her Neon Pegasi series.”
“Wait! You’re Summer Quill!” Thunder Step blurted at the top of his lungs, spewing coffee everywhere.
She narrowed her eyes and used her horn to pick up a napkin and dab the coffee from her features. “Yes, my pen name is Summer Quill. Ponies use pen names when they want to keep their real identities a secret, something mine will not be if you keep shouting it at the top of your lungs,” she said not meanly, but rather in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.
        The large pegasus suddenly looked very sheepish, as he glanced around nervously, as if looking to see anypony had heard him. “Sorry.” 
        Inkscape leaned forward and rested her head in her hooves. “What I want to know is why is my pen name so exciting to you?”
The grey pony shuffled in his seat. WELL, it’s just that I make a lot of trips from Canterlot to Ponyville, transporting all kinds of merchandise. I bring books sometimes, too. When I stop for a break, I’ll often times read a little…. I really like Summer Quill’s books. I don’t care if they’re for younger ponies.”
Both Inkscape and Hoofprint were silent for a moment, and Thunder Step’s unease seemed to multiply exponentially until Inkscape couldn’t hold it back any longer and started laughing. The two stallions looked at her. Thunder Step seemed hurt. She noticed and forced herself to take a breath to calm down. 
“No, no,” she said, “I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing at myself, or my publishers, or I don’t know.”
Thunder Step sighed, relieved, but raised a brow at her comment. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to elaborate.”
“My publishers have been on my case, because they want me to start focusing my writing on books for older ponies, but it seems older ponies like what I’m writing now.” 
        
The three finished their breakfast in good company. Afterwards Inkscape paid Hoofprint for his services.
“I found you a place to stay at a library in Ponyville. The caretaker seemed delighted to have company, especially after I told her that you were an author,” Hoofprint told her.
         She smiled and shook his hoof gratefully. “Thanks again, Hoofprint.”  
Thunder Step took Inkscape and her things to his wagon. Inkscape looked in wonder at all the treasures beneath the covered top. Books, some of hers, like he had mentioned, a variety of clothing, candies, tools, quills, scrolls, and countless other items made up the shipment. Everything seemed to be secured in place with deliberate precision. A seat at the front of wagon had been made ready for her.
Inkscape took her seat. Thunder Step set her luggage beside her. She thanked him, and he slipped into his yoke.
“You ready, Summer Quill?” He called over his shoulder.
She giggled. “Please, call me Inkscape.”
He blushed. “Are you ready to go then, Inkscape?”
“Ready, Thunderstep!”
“Okay, well hold on tight. I have to get there and back by the time Celestia lowers the sun.” He reared up on his hind legs and suddenly lurched into a full sprint, much to the dismay of the carriage drivers and pedestrians on the Canterlot roads.
“Sorry!’ She called to a pegasus pony, who was unfortunate enough to be walking around a puddle, when they came barreling down the road and thoroughly drenching the pony and her bag of purchases.  
The speed was exhilarating. Once they got out of the city and out onto the open road, Thunder Step really kicked it into high gear. The sound of the large stallion galloping really did sound like thunder. His name suited him well, Inkscape thought. She closed her eyes, felt the wind blowing through her mane, and wondered if this was how it felt to fly. 
A sudden bump in the road nearly sent her flying out of her seat. She yelped in surprise, catching herself before she flew out of the wagon with a spell, that secured her to the set. She thought she’d keep up the spell, just in case the road got bumpy again.
“You okay back there? You’re not going to wimp out on me, are ya?” Thunder Step called back, not breaking stride in the slight.
“No, I’m fine. Keep it up!” She yelled above the wind.
“What? Speed it up?” He gave a mischievous smile over his shoulder. I was hoping you would say that!”
“Wait no! I didn’t say-”
But it was too late. The pegasus unfurled his large wings, and beat them, accelerating their speed by double, no triple. Inkscape bit her lip, her eyes wide, streaming with tears from the harsh wind. She doubled her spell that she had placed to keep her flying out of the wagon.
Even with her eyes open, Inkscape could hardly see with her eyes watering profusely, so she closed them, trying to imagine that she was flying, which wasn’t hard. Other than the sound of the wind gushing in her ears, Inkscape didn’t hear anything. The sound of Thunder Step’s hooves hitting the path was gone. She forced open one eye and noticed that his hooves were hardly touching the ground at all anymore, though his legs still worked in a running motion. 
Inkscape looked ahead and saw what appeared to be buildings and houses in the distance quickly drawing nearer. They weren’t there yet where they? She struggled to look at the sun. It couldn’t even be noon yet. How fast were they GOING?! The structures became clearer, and there was no doubt that it was Ponyville.
Thunder Step glided with his wings, slowing their speed. She felt a small jolt go through the wagon when his hooves hit the ground. By the time they reached the town’s entrance, Thunder Step had slowed to a trot. Inkscape watched the resident ponies trot about the town’s streets, doing their day’s work. Some pulled carts, others stood behind booths in the market, calling out to the ponies passing by.  
Thunder Step stopped in front of a structure that appeared to be built into a living tree. A balcony was visible in the high branches. A door was at its base. “Here we are.”
Inkscape scrutinized the library, not sure if she should be incredulous or impressed. “The library is in a tree? Seems like a bit unsafe, if we were to have a lightning storm.”
“Not if you have a magical lightning rod!” Came a new voice.
Inkscape looked to where the sound had come from and saw that a purple unicorn with a navy mane and tail, each adorned with a magenta highlight, had emerged from the door and was making her way over to greet her. Why did she get the feeling that she should know who this mare was?
“Hello, My name is Twilight Sparkle, and you must be my new houseguest.” The unicorn mare held out her hoof. Inkscape smiled and shook it. Her mind was racing. Twilight Sparkle. I’ve heard that name…. but where?
She was still shaking Twilight Sparkle’s hoof, when she realized that she hadn’t responded, and the situation was starting to turn a bit awkward. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought. My name is Inkscape.” She quickly but subtly released the mare’s hoof and smiled sheepishly. 
“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Inkscape.” She turned to Thunder Step. “Oh, are the new Neon Pegasi books here? I’ve been looking forward to reading them and adding them to the library’s collection.” 
Again, Inkscape found herself surprised by the types of ponies who read her books. For a moment, she almost told her who she was, but thought that maybe that could wait until later. 
“Yep! They’re in the back,” Thunderstep said. He unhitched himself from the wagon and headed to the back, where he began gingerly shifting through the merchandise until he found a small package wrapped in paper and tied with a simple string. He took took it in his mouth, and Twilight Sparkle took it with her magic. in return, she gave him a couple bits.
He gave her a nod and a smile. “Pleasure doing business with you, Princess.”
Inkscape tilted her head. Princess? But then the unicorn turned, and Inkscape saw the wings folded at her sides. Not a unicorn, an alicorn! That’s where she had heard her name. Inkscape had not been in town for the coronation ceremony, but ponies were raving about it for weeks afterwards in Canterlot. 
Inkscape found herself suddenly kneeling and dipping her head before the princess. “My apologies, Princess Twilight Sparkle. I didn’t realize it was you. I wasn’t in Canterlot for the coronation. I didn’t even know what you looked like. I knew I heard your name somewhere, but I couldn’t remember exactly where until just now.” She found herself babbling like a fool.
“Please, now that’s enough of that. Please call me Twilight.”
Inkscape gave a nervous laugh. “Oh, haha. Sorry, um Twilight. I’ve never met royalty before.”
Twilight sighed. “I’m not royalty. Well, I guess I am, but don’t call me Princess. I only use that title for official business.”
Inkscape stared at her hoof, dragging it to and fro in the dirt. “Sorry.”
Twilight smiled. “No need to be sorry. Come on, let’s get you settled in.”
Inkscape felt oddly nervous as she waved Thunder Step farewell. She grabbed her bags with a levitation spell, enveloping them in a pale pink glow. Twilight lead her into the library, the first floor was packed with books on every shelf. Twilight noticed her distracted state.
“I know it’s not much. The library in Canterlot has a much more extensive collection, but I hope you can find everything you need here for any late night studying you wish to do. The library is always open for houseguests.”
“It is very charming,” Inkscape said in earnest.
This seemed to please Twilight very much. She beamed. “Thank you. I always try to keep it well-organized. Come on, I will show you to your room.”
Inkscape nodded and followed the alicorn up the stairs to a loft, where there was a bed with a dig basket on the floor beside it. Inkscape wondered if Twilight Sparkle had a pet. Twilight lead her through a door off to the side, where a small bedroom was set up. It had a window facing Ponyville’s clock tower and town square. A door lead out onto the balcony she had seen when she had first arrived. A writing desk was set up against a wall, stocked with parchment and quills. A bed was adjacent to it. next to the bed was a small dresser. A light pink area rug that almost matched the hue of her mane covered the center of the room.
Twilight seemed embarrassed. “It’s not very big-”
“It’s perfect!” Inkscape let out a squeal. She unceremoniously canceled the levitation spell, dropping her bags, which landed with muffled thuds on the wooden floor. She galloped over to the window. “Wow! What a view! There’s the Clocktower. Oh, and there’s the Everfree Forest! I can’t wait!”
Twilight walked up beside her. “Um, can’t wait for what? Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the enthusiasm.” She grinned. 
“The Palace of the Two Sisters! I’ve always wanted to see it!”
“Really? Well, I bet you’d love to know that there’s a library there….” Twilight said, as if trying to further convince her.
She raised a brow. “Really? What kind of books?”
“All kinds.”
Inkscape smirked. “All kinds?”
Twilight returned the smirk, a challenge in her eyes. “Try me.”
“History?”
“Yes.”
“Magic?”
“Of course.”
“Astronomy?”
“You’re not even trying.”
“Novels?”
“Don’t even doubt it.”
Inkscape paused a moment. “Genealogy of famous Equestrian wizards, including, but not limited to Starswirl the Bearded.”
They stared each other down for a long moment, before both simultaneously bursting into laughter. Inkscape laughed until she was in stitches. She couldn’t remember the last time she laughed so hard. Soon they were both gasping for breath. Inkscape had to wrestle with herself to keep from erupting into another bout of laughter. 
“Spike and I make trips quite frequently to the Palace of the Two Sisters. You’re welcome to come along with us on our next trip.”
“Really? Oh thank you!” She caught herself, but until after she had wrapped Twilight into a tight hug. She dropped her arms, embarrassed. “Sorry. I get a little carried away sometimes.”
Twilight just laughed. “Stop apologizing all the time. What’s a hug among friends?”
“Friends? But I-”
“I mean, I know we just met and all, but I get the feeling that we’re going to be great friends!”
Inkscape beamed back at her. “That I have no objection to.”
“Um, Twilight, if you’re done laughing like a maniac in here with the house guest, Pinkie Pie is at the door.” A young voice came from the doorway.
“Spike,” Twilight chided, “don’t be rude. This is Inkscape. She’s a writer.”
Inkscape looked to see who had spoken and was beyond surprised when she saw that it was a small purple dragon with round green spines down his back and tail. “This is Spike?!” She exclaimed. “He’s adorable! And he talks!” She rushed over to the small dragon and loowered herself to his level. “I’ve never met a dragon before. I never knew they could be so civil.” She held out a hoof. “Hi Spike, I’m Inkscape.”
“I better go see what Pinkie wants,” Twilight said, “You two get acquainted. I’ll be back in a moment.” She dismissed herself. Inkscape Didn’t hear her go down the stairs and assumed she must have flown down.                 
 Spike took Inkscape’s hoof in one of his claws. “Nice to meet you, Inkscape. I’m Spike, and for the record, I’m not adorable. Only Rarity can call me that.”
“Who?”
“Rarity, the most beautiful unicorn in all of Equestria. She runs the Carousel Boutique. She’s a fashion genius! I’m sure you’ll meet her and the others, if you stick around awhile.”
“Others?” She asked.
“Twilight’s friends.”
A sudden and rather dramatic gasp from downstairs interrupted them. “What?! She’s here now? Why didn’t you tell me? Now we’re running out of time!” Inkscape heard the door slam suddenly.
She turned to Spike. “Is everything okay?”
He shrugged. “She’s just being Pinkie Pie. I’m sure it’s nothing to get too worried about.”
Inkscape nodded, but trotted downstairs to ask Twilight what had happened. 
“She’s just being Pinkie Pie.” Twilight explained, mimicking Spike’s words.
“But what does that mean?”
Twilight and Spike exchanged a look. “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough,” She said with a grin.
Inkscape wasn’t sure how that answer made her feel, but she decided that it couldn’t be anything that bad.

Twilight and Spike let Inkscape relax for the rest of the afternoon, so that she could get unpacked and settled in. Later that evening, Twilight and Spike treated her to dinner at a local restaurant. They chose to be seated outside. It was still almost uncomfortably warm, despite the setting sun.
“This is some summer we’ve been having, isn’t it?” Inkscape commented.
Twilight nodded. “It has been really warm. I’ve had to put a cooling spell on the library.”
“I thought it seemed pretty cool in the library, but I just accredited it to it being inside of a living tree.
Twilight nodded. “That’s a good theory, but it’s just a spell.”
“Could you maybe show me that sometime? It would make so my home in Canterlot much more comfortable in this heat.”
For some reason, this made Twilight very happy, and she clapped her hooves together excitedly. “Oh, I have lots of helpful spells I could teach you: smudge resistant windows, how to heat water to a boil instantly, oh and a spell for melting ice on sidewalks in the winter. Oh, and I can’t forget the -”
“Okay, Twilight. I think she gets it.” Spike butted in.
She blushed. “Oh, right. I was just getting a little carried away.”  
The waiter came out with their orders then. Spike had a huge plate of hayfries. Inkscape ordered the same thing as Twilight, as she really didn’t know what to get, and Twilight told her that the daffodil and daisy sandwich was very good, especially with a side salad topped with raspberry vinaigrette.
The two mares got talking about life in Canterlot. Having both been raised in the capital city, they had a lot of common experiences. Twilight told Inkscape the story of how she acquired Spike, when she took the entry exam for Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, only to cause a massive magical explosion that not only earned her her cutie mark, but gained the attention of Celestia herself, who then made Twilight her own personal pupil.
“So you never got into the school after all?” Inkscape asked.
“No,” she said, “but I got something much better.”
Inkscape grinned. “Well, that’s too bad, I took the entrance exam for the same school term. We could have been classmates.”    
“You went to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns?!” She asked incredulously.
Inkscape smiled, feeling pride surging through her. “Yep! Well, most of my family has. Magic has always run strong in my family.”
“I always wondered if special magical ability is a recessive or dominant gene.” Twilight speculated. She then went into a detailed rant on her personal theories regarding this. She started using scientific terms that Inkscape hadn’t heard or used since science class, back during her school days. She soon found herself lost. She exchanged a look with Spike who returned a small smile and a nod. Inkscape supposed this was just a normal Twilight thing. 
They spoke for so long that by the time they had left the restaurant, Luna was  beginning to raise the moon. 
Twilight looked at the sky. “Wow! We’ve been here for quite some time now. We should probably head back to the library before it gets too dark to see.”
They headed back to the library, just as the rest of the day’s light had faded below the horizon. Inkscape followed Twilight inside the darkened library. Then suddenly a loud squeal, and the room was suddenly filled with light. It blinded Inkscape for a moment, while her eyes adjusted. A loud bang sounded and streamers and glitter went everywhere.
“Welcome to Ponyville, Inkscape!” Screamed a pink Earth Pony excitedly. She hopped around the room, until she was right in her face. “Did you like my party cannon? Be you weren’t expecting a party! Were you surprised? Huh? Huh? Huh?”
Inkscape was gasping for air. She didn’t take to being startled well. “Yes.. I.. was…” She choked out between breaths. 
“Hey everyone! We surprised her!” The pink pony screamed over her shoulder to four other ponies. There was a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail, an orange earth pony with a blond mane, who wore a cowpony hat, a white unicorn with a well-styled purple mane and tail, and in the far corner, a yellow pegasus with a long pink mane and tail.
When she could breath again, Inkscape asked. “What’s going on?”
“It’s your Welcome to Ponyville Party!” The pink pony was hopping in circles around the library excitedly.
“Pinkie, calm down!” Twilight cast a spell that levitated the hyper pink earth pony. She floated in mid air in a magenta bubble of magic, seemingly unphased, but rather swam gleefully in the zero gravity.
“Sorry about that,” Twilight said. “Pinkie Pie means well. Now let me introduce you to everypony. “This is Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy, and of course, you’ve met Pinkie Pie here.”
“Hi Inkscaaaape!” Pinkie Pie called in an echoing voice from inside her bubble.
Twilight rolled her eyes and smiled, canceling the spell. Pinkie Pie hopped over to the table in the center of the library, where a large pink cake was set. It was covered in at least a dozen candles and read ‘Welcome Inkscape!’ “What are you waiting for, silly. Blow out your candles!”
Inkscape looked around nervously at all the smiling and encouraging faces. She took a deep breath and blew them them out. She wasn’t sure if she was supposed to make a wish or not. It wasn’t like it was her birthday or anything, but she thought there was no harm in it. She wished this vacation would be something worth remembering.
Pinkie Pie took it upon herself to divide the cake into eight pieces. Spike ate his in one bite, as did the pink earth pony herself. 
        “Aww, I thought you were a pegasus,” Rainbow Dash  commented. “I was hoping for a flying buddy.”
        “Rainbow Dash,” Rarity chastised. “Now there is no need to be rude to our new friend.” She turned to Inkscape. “Please do forgive Rainbow here. She can be a bit rash at times.”
        Rainbow Dash gave her a sour look. “Hey!”
        Inkscape giggled. “No offense taken. I would make for a poor pegasus anyway. I’m terrified of heights.”
        “Oh, I don’t like heights either,” said a quiet Fluttershy. “I prefer to stay near the ground with my animal friends.”
        “I miss having a pet,” Inkscape commented, “it was always nice having company while I worked.”
        This peaked Fluttershy’s interest, and she suddenly became very talkative. “Oh, I have lots of cute little critters at my cottage. If you want to adopt a pet, I could find you the perfect one. I have all kinds of song birds, cardinals, finches, oh, and even flamingos. Well, flamingos aren’t a song bird, but they are very friendly. I also have bunnies, squirrels, kitties and puppies -”
        “Hold on there there, Sugarcube.” Applejack intervened. “No need to overwhelm the poor thing. I bet she’s feeling a might overwhelmed by it all, without anypony pressuring her.”
        Fluttershy looked down and away, suddenly very sullen. “Oh, sorry. I’ll stop.”
        “I would love to drop by your cottage and see the animals, Fluttershy.”
        A smile spread across the yellow pegasus’ features. 

        Pinkie Pie dictated the remainder of the evening, and Inkscape didn’t doubt that the joyful mare’s special talent was throwing parties. She could hardly remember the last time she had had so much fun! Pinkie Pie had brought a big Pinata filled with rock candy of all things. They danced to songs by Sapphire Shores. Inkscape hadn’t danced in a very long time. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had done so. She was surprised she still has some sense of rhythm. She guessed that maybe that was something one was born with, and it couldn’t be forgotten. 
        By the end of the night, Inkscape was feeling ill from eating too much candy, and her hooves ached from dancing through Sapphire Shore’s latest album three times in a row, and as much fun as she and Twilight echoed her sense of relief, once everypony had left. They were both exhausted. 
        They both headed to bed. Inkscape fell asleep almost instantly, despite being in a new place. However, as soon as she began to slumber, she began to dream. She dreamed she was walking through the forest. For some reason, she got the feeling she was in the Everfree Forest. It was night, and she could hear Timberwolves howling on the wind, but she wasn’t afraid. Everything went silent, and all she could hear was the sound of her hoofsteps.  Suddenly, her steps grew louder, as the surface beneath her changed from soft earth to solid stone, then there were more hoofsteps, coming from ahead! Inkscape tried to see what it was, but she was surrounded by thick fog. She could not see anything. Then, through the mist, she saw a figure. It came forward and stood before her. The pony was blessed with both horn and wing. Her mane was dazzled with the light of stars.
        She dropped to one knee so quickly, Inkscape almost hit her face on the ground. 
        “Rise, my little pony,” The Alicorn said in a gentle voice.
        Inkscape rose shakily to her hooves. “P-Princess Luna! What are you doing here. Is- is this a dream? Or is it real?”
        “This is indeed a dream, Inkscape, but who is to say that it is not also reality.”
        “I-I don’t understand.”
“My time here is short, but you must remain in Ponyville, Inkscape. It is imperative. Do not go home, not until your task is complete.”
“Wait, but how do I know-” But it was too late, and Inkscape found herself talking to empty space.         

> Something Strange with the Sky
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inkscape awoke with a start. Her heart felt like it was about to gallop out of her chest. She stumbled out of bed and went down stairs to get a glass of water. The dream had been so vivid. She could still hear Princess Luna’s voice so crisp in her mind. Could a dream really be reality? It must have been her imagination running wild. She did have a big day yesterday, after all. 
        She nearly dropped her glass, when she heard a flutter of wings behind her. She gasped, turning around abruptly, she came face to face with Twilight. “Ah!” Inkscape stifled a scream, as to not awaken Spike. 
        “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” Twilight said in a low tone. “I heard you get up. Are you all right? You seem a little jumpy.”
        Inkscape chuckled nervously. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just had a bad dream is all.”
        “Are you going to be okay? You look a little pale. Do you want to talk about it?”
Inkscape slid her forehoof to and fro on the kitchen floor, touched by the alicorn’s kindness, but she wasn’t even entirely sure that Luna really had been in her dreams, and Inkscape got the feeling that Twilight Sparkle could be the kind of pony that overreacted. She didn’t want to worry her over what was probably nothing more than a bad dream brought on by exhaustion. 
“No, it’s fine. Just a bad dream. Everypony gets them.” She forced a smile.
Twilight studied her for a moment, analysing her features for what seemed to be a long moment. She didn’t seem to find whatever it was she was looking for and bid Inkscape goodnight, flying back upstairs. 
Inkscape slumped onto the floor. “It’s just a dream.  What was I thinking? A princess walking in my dreams.” She laughed quietly at herself. “Get the fluff out of your brain, Inkscape.” She continued grinning at herself, as she made her way back into the guestroom and settling back into bed. She fell asleep and slumbered dreamlessly until dawn. 
She awoke to the smell of pancakes. Sunlight was streaming in through the window facing the Ponyville clocktower. She guessed it was around mid-morning. Inkscape trotted downstairs, where she found Spike cooking in the kitchen and the source of the pancake smell. She also found Twilight with her nose in a book. Her brows were furrowed in concentration.
“Twilight, are you going to get your snout out of that book, or am I going to have to eat all of these oat pancakes by myself?” Spike called from the open kitchen door. He was adorned in a white apron with a daisy pattern and a chef’s hat.
“Aren’t you forgetting somepony?” Twilight asked, her gaze not leaving the page.
“Oh,” Spike suddenly looked abashed. “Would you like some pancakes, Inkscape? I have some extra batter. I can whip up another batch.”
Inkscape smiled at the baby purple dragon. “That would be very lovely. Thank you, Spike.”
She trotted over to where Twilight was reading at the table in the center of the library. “So, what are you reading? It’s awfully early to be studying.”
“It’s never to too early to start hitting the books,” Twilight said, closing the book with her magic and placing it on the table. It was an old brown book with an unadorned cover.
        “So, what are you studying?” Inkscape ventured to ask.
        “Nothing really, just weather patterns and climates in Equestria. I was curious as to what could be causing such an abnormally warm summer. I thought it may be something serious, but it turns out, we may just have a large low pressure system moving through.”
“But I thought the pegasi controlled the weather in Ponyville?”
“Correction, they control the precipitation, but they cannot control the air masses themselves.”
Spike walked into the room, carrying a plate of oat pancakes, which he set on the table in front of Inkscape. “Huh? What are you going on about now, Twilight?”
“The weather, Spike. See, air masses, are, as they are titled, are masses of air of high and low pressure-.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, Hot and cold air.” Spike cut her off.
Twilight beamed. “Exactly, Spike. That is basically the main idea. See? You can learn a lot, if you apply yourself to your studies.”
“I just know it, because you got me a weather book for my birthday last year. A book again...Like every year,” he stated glumly.
Inkscape giggled, taking a bite of her pancakes. “These are very good, Spike, thank you. You are quite a talented chef.”
The tiny dragon blushed. “Oh, you think so? Twilight once gave me a book on cooking for Hearth Warming Day.”
Twilight turned her attention back to Inkscape. “So what do you plan to do today, Inkscape? Are you going to do a bit of writing, find that inspirational spark yet?”
Inkscape sighed. “Nope, no spark yet. I was thinking about getting a journal, so I could write down what happens, while I’m in Ponyville.” She smiled. “After last night, I know it will be a trip worth remembering.”
Twilight clapped her hooves together excitedly. “Oh! And I know just the place - The Quill and Sofa Shop!”
“The Quill and Sofa shop?”
“Yes, they sell quills, sofas, and various types of stationary.”
Inkscape ginned to herself. “Well, it’s definitely an odd combination, isn’t it?”
“I guess it is a little silly.” The lavender alicorn agreed with a small laugh. “I could take you there, if you want. We can find you a nice quill and a journal to write in.”
She beamed. “Thank you, Twilight. I’d like that a lot.”

After Inkscape had finished her breakfast, Twilight showed her the way to the Quill and Sofa shop. Inkscape still hadn’t gotten over the name of the shop, but she tried to withhold her laughter, so she wouldn’t giggle like a schoolpony.
The day was slowly warming up, as they walked. It was going to be another hot one, and Inkscape wondered how long one of those pressure systems could stay in one place. “Too bad you can’t put a cooling spell over the entire town, Twilight.”
“I know, but I’m sure this warm spell will be over soon. I’ve noticed the grass in town is getting brown. I’d say we’re overdue for a good storm. I wonder why the pegasi haven’t gotten on that yet. But I am sure a good rain would help cool things off.”
Inkscape agreed with a nod. They arrived at the Quill and Sofa shop, which was on the corner of the Town Square. They entered, and a bell jingled above the door, signaling their arrival. Inkscape looked around at the odd mixture of sofas, bookshelves, and parchments. Bookshelves sat amongst sofas and lined the walls. The large center counter was piled high with rolls of parchment, with even more seen against the back wall, along with a large supply of feather quills of all shapes, colors and sizes. The shop smelled like books. Inkscape took it in fondly. It was a homey smell.
“Ah, Miss Twilight Sparkle, how may I assist you? In need of some more parchment, I presume?” The clerk, asked. He was a tan stallion Earth Pony with a matching chocolate mane and tail, both of which were smooth and well-groomed. He wore a blue dress shirt adorned with a white collar. 
Twilight smiled and held up a hoof. “Not today. I’m actually here with a friend.” She gestured towards Inkscape, standing behind her. “She is looking to buy a new journal.”
The clerk craned his neck to get a better look at Inkscape. “Say, don’t I know you from someplace?”
Inkscape’s heart skipped into overtime. “Oh no, you must be mistaken. I’m new in town, just here for vacation is all.” She felt her face growing hotter by the second. “You must be confusing me with somepony else. Haha.”
Realization suddenly dawned on the clerk’s face. “I know you!”
“N-no. No you don’t!”
Twilight just tilted her head. “What’s going on here?”
“You’re Summer Quill! I saw your interview in Quill and Ink Monthly!” The clerk blurted out, nearly jumping over the counter, but was able to contain himself enough to exit out the door to the back of the counter. He rushed up to Inkscape and shook her hoof in his heavy grasp. Inkscape tried her best to be polite and not wince too visibly. 
“I um, uh.” She, for once, found herself at a loss for words.
A book with a bright yellow cover, which she immediately recognised as one of her own, filled her vision. “Could you please sign this copy of The Unicorn Knight for my son? He just loves your books! It’s his birthday next week, and I was going to give him this.”
Flattered, but still taken aback, Inkscape borrowed a pen from the countertop with a levitation spell. “What is your son’s name” She asked. 
“Onyx.”
“That is a very nice name.” She commented, and the Clerk appeared to blush. 

Happy Birthday, Onyx. I hope you enjoy the story. Make everyday an adventure! 
- Summer Quill

She signed the inside cover of the book in an elegant script. When she had finished, she returned the quill to the counter. “There you are, sir. Tell your son that I personally wish him a happy birthday.” She couldn’t help but beam at the store clerk, who was now simply ecstatic.
“I can’t believe it!” Twilight exclaimed. “You’re Summer Quill! Now this really made Inkscape blush. A princess was excited about meeting her. Her. She was just a writer. She sat behind a desk most of the day for work. Sometimes, she sat behind her desk with nothing to write at all. She wasn’t anything special. There were ponies who deserved more adoration than she did, like doctors and teachers. “Y-yeah. I guess I am.” She looked away, embarrassed by the eagerness in the alicorn’s wide purple eyes.
“I just love your books! My favorite novel of yours is The Mare and the Meadow.”
“Well, if you promise not to tell anypony about who I am, I could maybe sign your copy for you.” She turned to look over her shoulder at the clerk. “You, too! Please don’t tell anypony I was here. I’m on vacation.”
Both Twilight and the Quill and Sofa Clerk agreed not to tell anypony about Inkscape’s writing identity nor her trip to Ponyville. The clerk gave her a discount on a maroon journal Inkscape had found. It had an intricate floral pattern pressed into its center. Twilight insisted upon buying her a new quill to go with it, even though she explained that she had brought enough quills with her from home.
“A new journal calls for a new quill, and I will not take no for an answer,” Twilight had said in return to her objections, as she passed the bits to the clerk. 

The quill Twilight bought her was a brilliant and glossy red. When it caught the light, the feather reflected hues of golden yellows and blazing oranges. She hovered it before her, as they made their way back in the direction of the library, mesmerised by it. “I have never seen a quill like this before. Thank you, Twilight.”
“You’re very welcome,” she said with a smile. “It’s a phoenix feather, that’s why it reflects the light like that.”
“Wow! It’s beautiful. I have never seen a phoenix before.”
“Well, maybe someday you will. They are very rare, but some ponies are able to keep them as pets. Princess Celestia has a pet phoenix. Her name is Philamena. She caused quite a deal of trouble last time she visited Ponyville with the Princess.” She smiled, as if remembering something humorous.
They were nearing the library, when they heard a shout above them. “Come on, laggy hooves! We need these clouds in formation stat! We’re three days overdue for a rainstorm. Everything is going to wilt at this rate!”
        Inkscape and Twilight looked up to see the cyan Rainbow Dash directing her weather team, who seemed to be having a hard time keeping the clouds in place, as they tried to mold them into a blanket that covered Ponyville’s blue sky. As soon as a cloud was moved, it would dissipate into a billow of mist that was taken away by the breeze. 
        “We can’t! The clouds are so fragile, they break apart as soon as we touch them!” A lavender pegasus with a golden mane explained desperately. 
        “I know the clouds are a little weak from all this heat, Cloud Kicker, but Ponyville is counting on us. And Derpy, stop licking the clouds!” Rainbow Dash snapped at the grey pegasus hovering obliviously just below her.
        “Rainbow, what’s wrong?” Twilight called up to her friend.
Rainbow Dash hovered closer to the ground. “It’s these darn clouds! The sun has been so intense, that they’re too fragile to move!”
“But aren’t the clouds made at the weather factory in Cloudsdale?”
“Yeah, but they don’t last long in this heat.” She prodded a nearby cloud with her hoof for emphasis, as is disappeared into a thin mist. “If we can’t get a good shower going within a couple days, the local farms are going to be in big trouble.”
“Well, maybe I could help?” The lavender alicorn offered. She flew up to one of the few remaining clouds. She lit her horn with a translucent magenta aura. "Maybe a Come to Life Spell will allow us to move the clouds without actually touching and damaging them.”
Rainbow Dash looked somewhat apprehensive, but after a moment of thought, gave Twilight a curt nod.
A beam of magic flowed from her horn, enveloping the cloud, which suddenly sprang to life. “Ha! See? It worked!” The cloud jerked and took off racing, and before anypony could do anything, it charged straight into the side of City Hall and promptly dissolved into mist.
The pegasi cast angry glares in Twilight’s direction, who then meekly lowered herself back onto the street. 
“Really, Twilight, you know that Come to Life Spell always backfires! Do I need to remind you what happened during Winter Wrap Up?”
Chagrin filled the princess’ features. “No, no. No need to bring that up in front of my house guest.” She glanced in Inkscape’s direction, grinning nervously.
“What happened during Winter Wrap Up?” Inkscape ventured, when a lavender hoof was suddenly shoved against her mouth.
“Nothing! Nothing happened!”

Inkscape and Twilight Sparkle left Rainbow Dash and her pegasi to report back to Cloudsdale about the problems with the clouds. Twilight wore a worried expression on her face, as they went. Inkscape thought to ask the Alicorn Princess about the Winter Wrap Up mishap, but she had a feeling that she was not going to get anything from her. With a sly grin, she wondered if Spike would be willing to quench her curiosity. She made a mental note to ask him later, when Twilight wasn’t around. 
They trotted down the sparse road that lead through town to the Library. Inkscape couldn’t help but notice Twilight’s gaze transfixed upon the sky. “Is everything okay?” She ventured.
        “I’m sure it’s just me worrying about nothing again,” she said, breaking her sights away from the cloudless sky. She cast a rueful look at the pale yellow unicorn. “I’ve learned from a series of incidents that I tend to worry too much about the future.”
        Inkscape nodded reluctantly. The pegasi being unable to make it rain seemed like a serious thing in her opinion, but she didn’t dare dispute the Princess. Twilight didn’t become a princess, because she was dumb. She had to have faith that she knew what she was talking about. Maybe this type of thing had happened in the past? 

        They arrived back at the Library a little after noon. Spike was busy dusting the bookshelves, when they entered. He was wearing his apron again and holding a very fluffy featherduster. He hopped down off of the step ladder he was using to get the higher shelves.  “Hey, you guys! It’s a warm one out today, isn’t it? I’m surprised you two didn’t melt out there!”
        “Well, we did go out during the cool of the morning. It was getting a little warm on the walk home, but now we’re back in the cool of the Library, before the day really heats up.” Twilight stated matter-of-factly. 
        It was then that Spike noticed the shopping bag held in Inkscape’s pink magical grasp. “Hey! What do you have there? You two didn’t happen to stop by Sugarcube Corner, did you?”
        Inkscape shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry, Spike. We just stopped by to get a journal and some parchment. Oh, and Twilight gifted me also with this.” She levitated the quill out of the shopping bag.
“Wow! It’s really pretty! It looks like fire, when it catches the light.” 
“It’s a phoenix feather.” Twilight chirped.
“I don’t know about you ponies, but I am starved. Who wants nachos?” Spike asked, ripping off his apron and throwing it off to the side. 
“ME!” Inkscape’s hoof shot up like an anxious school filly. 

        “Wow, Inkscape, I had no idea you had such a thing for nachos!” Twilight giggled, dipping a chip in the salsa with her horn and guiding it into her mouth, without removing her gaze from her book. Not looking away from books appeared to be a talent of hers.
“Queso dip is my favorite!” Inkscape dipped another chip into the bowl of queso. “I just love cheese!”

Later that night, Inkscape sat at the writing desk in her room that was illuminated by two candles, one on either side, and the faint glow of her horn, as she made her first entry into her new journal.

Today was my first full day in Ponyville. This journal and lovely phoenix quill were bought for me as gifts by my newest acquaintance,  or should I say friend, Twilight Sparkle. She and her assistant, Spike, have been so hospitable to me, and Spike turns out to be quite the chef! He made my the best pancakes I have ever had this morning, and this evening, he made nachos with queso dip! My favorite!
Oh! And last night, I got to meet Twilight Sparkle’s friends. There was Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Applejack. Fluttershy is, as her name suggests, so very shy. She loves animals.  It has been such a long time since I’ve owned a pet of my own. I think it may be a good idea for me to adopt one. You know, someone to keep me company while I work.  She invited me down to her cottage sometime during my trip to find the perfect pet. 
Rarity is a designer. She runs a boutique in town. I heard she has some very impressive clients from Spike. Pinkie Pie is a very excitable pony, she planned my party, and Applejack works on her family farm, Sweet Apple Acres. I found out today that Rainbow Dash leads the weather team in Ponyville, though there is something odd going on with the clouds. Twilight thinks it has something to do with air masses and the heat. 
Despite the heat, I am thoroughly enjoying my stay here in Ponyville thus far. I hope to make regular entries in this journal, so I can look  back and remember all of these wonderful times. 

A frustrated groan from downstairs interrupted her reverie. “What in the name of Celestia was that?”
She ran downstairs to find Twilight nearly up to her ears in books in the center of the Library. She was flipping through pages like mad. Her mane was disheveled and her movements jerky. She read aloud to herself, or maybe she was muttering to herself. Inkscape couldn’t tell which.
“Twilight? What’s going on? Why are you surrounded by towers of books?”
The alicorn looked up at Inkscape, her tired violet eyes wary and desperate. “I couldn’t just let it go.”
“Let what go?”
“The clouds! I had to see if there was any explanation for the clouds being so fragile. I know it had to do something with the heat, but there are no records in Equestrian history of this happening in the past. I don’t know what’s going on. My books don’t know what’s going on. If it can’t rain, the crops won’t grow, and if the farmer’s crops can’t grow, then fights over remaining food will break out, inevitably causing the END OF THE WORLD!” She yelled, flailing her arms and scattering papers and books across the room.
        Inkscape placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Twilight, calm down. I thought you said you weren’t worried this afternoon?”
        “Well, I tried not to be, but when I tried to sleep, it was all I could think about! I didn’t want you to get stressed on your vacation, so I tried to keep a quiet study session down here… As you can tell, that didn’t work out. Sorry, I woke you.”
        Inkscape shook her head. “I wasn’t sleeping. I was just writing my first entry in my journal. 
        “Still, I shouldn’t have disturbed you. I just get so frustrated, when my books don’t have all the answers.”
        Inkscape sat, pondering for a moment, before suddenly jumping to her hooves. “Your books may not have the answers, but maybe someone else’s books do!”
        She raised a brow.
        “I heard the Palace of the Two Sisters has a huge library of old books. Maybe we can find some clues there.”
        “We? But you really don’t need to help me. You’re on vacation. I’ve got this covered.”
        Inkscape rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous! The Palace was one of my vacation destinations anyway.”
        Twilight gave a determined grin. “Well, if that’s the way you feel about it, welcome aboard!”

> A Walk in the Woods
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The next morning Inkscape found herself being jostled awake. Her eyes flickered open to find a lavender face just inches from her own. She let out a scream, and then a hoof was shoved over her mouth.
        “Shh! Inkscape, it’s just me, Twilight!”
        Inkscape sat up, clutching at her heart. She wasn’t sure that she was not going into a cardiac arrest. “Celestia help me! You nearly gave me a heart attack!” She pointed an accusing hoof at the alicorn. “Don’t you know not to sneak up on ponies?”
        The hoof was over her mouth again. “Quiet!” She hissed. “You’re going to wake up Spike!”
        Inkscape glanced over at the window. Celestia was just rising the hot summer sun. She looked moodily at Twilight. “Why are you waking me up this early? Celestia hasn’t even raised the sun yet!” She gestured towards the window.
        “Because I want to get an early start. Also, Spike gets bored out of his mind, whenever I go to the Palace of the Two Sisters. I thought it would be best of he stayed here and had a morning to sleep in while we’re away. Now get up!”
        Inkscape groaned, but complied. She rolled out of bed. She grabbed a brush from her luggage and hastily brushed her mane and tail, while Twilight tapped her hoof impatiently. “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go!”
        They left Spike a letter, reminding him where they were going today. By the time they reached the edge of the Everfree Forest, the sun was just rising above the horizon, painting the sky unusually red. The hue made Inkscape uneasy for some reason, but she shrugged it off and followed Twilight Sparkle into the coolness of the trees. Inkscape found it hard to believe that it was already getting so warm so early in the day.
        “If it gets any warmer this summer, everypony will melt!” The yellow mare commented, as they journeyed into the forest. 
        “Hopefully we can get some answers today, just be sure to stick close. There are a lot of wild animals in the Everfree Forest. There are timberwolves, cockatrices, hydras…. I’ve even seen a sea monster… well, a river monster, but it was still a monster!”
        Inkscape felt the fur along her knape rise apprehensively. She glanced around at the shadows cast by the looming trees and thick foliage off the side of the path. She tried hard not to imagine glowing pairs of eyes peering out at her from the darkness. She swallowed hard and diverted her gaze, giving out a small yelp, when she saw that Twilight had gotten ahead of her. She galloped to catch up.
        They walked in silence. Usually Inkscape would have struck up a conversation, but something about this strange place killed her desire to speak. If anything was out there, she wanted to be able to hear it before it heard her. 
        The two mares delved deeper into the forest. They came to a ravine that appeared quite suddenly through the trees. Inkscape thought she saw something at the bottom…glowing? She craned her neck over the edge for a closer look. It was glowing! It was a tree, and it was glowing! It was unlike anything she had ever seen before. It did not have leaves. Instead of leaves, it had what appeared to have short, jeweled, vines adorning its branches. The tree seemed to be more stone-like than anything. Upon its trunk was a crescent moon, further up was the depiction of the sun, at its center there appeared to be a star of some kind. Within each of its branches was a glowing stone in the most odd collection of shapes: a balloon, an apple, a diamond, a butterfly, and a lightning bolt. It couldn’t be. Those were the Elements of Harmony! But what were they doing way out in the middle of this forest? Why were they embedded into a glowing tree? “What is that?” She dared to ask, no louder than a whisper.
 “That is the Tree of Harmony.”
Inkscape tilted her head slightly. “The Tree of Harmony? But, aren’t those the Elements of Harmony fastened within its branches?”
Twilight nodded gravely. “When the Princess Sisters went missing, and the Everfree Forest was invading, we had no choice but to return the Elements to the Tree. It is what keeps the Everfree Forest contained and at peace.”
“Return the Elements. So you’re saying the Elements of Harmony came from this tree?”
Twilight Sparkle nodded.
Inkscape gazed at the Tree once more. It was very beautiful, and it gave off an aura of peace and safety. Each Element radiated a different hue, combining its light to create a rainbow of auroras that danced upon the chasm walls. “It’s so beautiful.” She whispered in awe.
“It is, isn’t it? I guess I never took the time to notice it before. I am so deep in a one-track mind mentality, when I’m heading out here, that I didn’t stop to savor the sights like this one.”

It was high noon when they reached the Palace. Well, it certainly didn’t look like a palace, more like a crumpled heap of old ruins. Twilight said that on the day Luna became Nightmare Moon, she destroyed the palace, in an attempt to be rid of her elder sister, Celestia. Inkscape remembered the day, when the sky went dark during the Summer Sun Celebration. It was shortly after that that Princess Luna returned. Inkscape herself had been apprehensive of the formerly banished princess, but living in Canterlot allowed her to see the princesses in passing on a regular basis. She quickly learned that Nightmare Moon was no more. Whenever addressing the crowds in Canterlot, Princess Luna seemed to be a kindhearted pony with much compassion for her subjects.
As if the outside wasn’t ominous enough, the inside of the castle gave Inkscape goosebumps. Cobwebs hung from the walls, and the air was dank and heavy, topped with the faint smell of mothballs and water mold. They entered into the long-abandoned throne room. A hole had been blasted through the ceiling, letting in dim light from the surrounding forest. Empty suits of ancient pony armor lined the walls. They gave her the creeps, half-expecting them to come to life at any second. 
A flight of steps lead to the platform where two stone thrones stood, timeless, one depicting a sun on its back, the other, a moon. It was hard for Inkscape to take in that this castle was once the home of the highest royalty in all of Equestria. Twilight lead the way, imbuing her horn with a spell to light the way. Inkscape followed suite, lighting her own horn.
Something sticky and stringy in texture hit Inkscape in the face. She let out a piercing, panicked scream.
Twilight whirled around with a gasp. “Inkscape! What is it?”
Inkscape shook her head and bucked to rid herself of the strange sensation. “Get it off! Get it off! Something’s got me, get it off!” She flailed around helplessly. She suddenly found herself airborne, caught in Twilight’s levitation spell. 
“Hold still!” The alicorn princess scolded with a giggle. “You just stepped into a spider’s web. Let me help.” She step forward, as to remove the web, when the unicorn resumed flailing even harsher than before. 
“Aghhh! Spider! Get it off! Get it off!”
 “Inkscape, calm down! There’s no spider.” She told the frantic mare, discreetly swiping away the arachnid crawling on her friend’s shoulder. “Now, I’m going let you down, and I want you to relax, not panic. Okay?” She lowered her down to the ground, while removing the cobweb with a spell. 
Inkscape took a few deep, calming breaths. “Sorry, arachnophobic.” She grinned sheepishly.
“It is quite understandable.” Twilight returned, continuing forward. “Phobias are very common. I’d even go as far as to say that everypony has at least one.”
“Really? Well, what is one of your phobias?” Inkscape asked, following close behind.”
“Ophidiophobia.”
Inkscape tilted her head. “Really? But they are so adorable!”
Twilight rounded on her. “Are you serious? They’re terrifying! They slither and hiss, and their forked tongue!” She visible shivered just thinking about it. 
“That is a silly fear. Have you seen their eyes? Granted, vipers have slitted eyes, but the others have those cute rounded pupils. Oh! And when they stick their tongues out to taste the air. So charming!” Her hooves clapped together excitedly.
Twilight Sparkle jammed the tip of her hoof into Inkscape’s chest. “You’re scared of spiders, most of which are completely harmless - just like the one that landed on you, when you ran into its web just now.” She smirked, when Inkscape’s eyes widened, and she started panicking, feeling about herself with her forelegs, trying to brush off the non-existent spider. The princess chuckled. Inkscape narrowed her eyes and followed the lavender alicorn into the library. Very funny, Twilight. Very funny.
Inkscape had never seen so many books! The shelves stretched from the floor to the high ceiling, far above her head. She had to crane her neck in order to see the top of the shelves. If she had to guess, she would have had say it was about two stories high. “Wow.” She whispered, her voice echoed in the vast space above.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Twilight was grinning ear to ear. She looked like a foal in a candy store. “Now, the books are quite organised. The science books are over there.” She pointed to Inkscape’s left with a hoof. “And the history books are over there.” She pointed to Inkscape’s right. “I’ll take the science wing, if you want to start looking through the history books.”
Inkscape agreed and headed over to the shelves Twilight had pointed her to. “Sweet Celestia! Where do I start?!” She took in the vast expanse of books. “This has to be one of the biggest collection in this already gargantuan library.” She swallowed and a determined expression crossed her features. “Okay, let’s do this,” She said to nopony in particular, as Twilight was on the other side of the library, her muzzle already deep into a book on weather. 
Surrounding a book titled, Historical Weather in the Last Century with an aura of pink magic, she lowered it down towards her. She levitated it to a small table beside the shelves with an old pillow for seating, and though soft, it let out a puff of dust when she sat on it. She coughed and stuck her tongue out, while trying to wipe the dust off with her bare hooves. “Gross!”
Inkscape regarded the book, a burgundy cover with old depictions of weather on its cover. “Well, this could be promising.” She gingerly opened the book with magic and began skimming the pages for something about past droughts. Unfortunately, the closest thing she could find was when Equestria's National Weather Teams went on strike over three hundred years ago. “The weather teams most certainly aren’t the problem this time around.” She murmured to herself, turning the page. She skimmed through the remaining chapters, but nothing of consequence appeared. Inkscape sighed and shelved the book.
She spent the next two hours skimming through books, none of which gave her any clues to solving the mystery of the weather. Getting frustrated, she pulled another book off the shelf, not even bothering to look at the cover. She opened it to a random page and began skimming, but then she started reading. It had to do with the banishment of Nightmare Moon. It seemed as if the writer had been there himself or herself. Holding her place with a hoof, Inkscape peeked at the cover. Nothing. She opened it to the first page. It was blank with the exception of the script scrawled in its center.
Celestia
      “Celestia? Celestia used to live here. Maybe this was her book.” She gasped, double-checking the handwriting in the book to that on the inside cover. They matched. “It couldn’t be. Celestia’s diary?” What a find! Inkscape glanced over her shoulder to where Twilight was sitting across the Library. She was now surrounded by piles of books, rapidly skimming and sorting through them with her magic. Her progress made Inkscape feel guilty. She was putting far more energy into this research than she was, but Inkscape couldn’t pass this up. A first hoof account on the banishment of Nightmare Moon!  With a last glance at Twilight, she delved into the account. 
        
Banishing Nightmare Moon, no, my sister, Luna, to the moon, was the hardest thing I have ever done, and I suspect it will be the hardest thing I will ever do, as long as I live. I do not blame my sister for what happened. This was the doing of The Nightmare, one of the darkest forces known to ponykind. It is a parasitic force that searches out vulnerable ponies to latch on to, and in the process, infects their hearts, turning them dark and cruel. I can only hope this condition is curable. I already do so much miss my dear sister. I often wonder if there was more I could have done to prevent this tragedy from occurring. I saw the signs, her unhappiness, her growing distant from me and other ponies. Emotionally, she was so vulnerable, making her a perfect target for the Nightmare. Maybe if I had been a better sister, she would not have felt this way. I could have stopped this. I should have stopped this.
        
        “Hey, Inkscape!”
        Inkscape nearly jumped out of her pelt. “Don’t scare me like that!”
        Twilight blushed. “Sorry. What are you reading there?”
        She sighed. “Nothing of use, I’m afraid.” She levitated the book towards Twilight. “I got caught up reading an entry in Princess Celestia’s old diary, the one about her banishing Nightmare Moon, and the magic that changed Luna into a mare of darkness.”
        “Wow! That is quite a find! I think I’d like to borrow that one! I can’t believe you found another diary of the Princess!” She squealed and clapped her hooves together in excitement. “I can’t wait to read it!”
        “Wait. Another diary?”
        Twilight nodded. “Yes, I found another awhile back. It documents Princess Celestia and Princess Luna growing up in this very castle.” 
        “I bet that would be interesting to read. I would love to know what Equestria was like so long ago.” She paused. “But this isn’t getting us any closer to learning about the drought.” Inkscape added regrettably. 
        Twilighted sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. Maybe we should -” She was cut off by a loud growl from her stomach. She chuckled, embarrassed. “Maybe we should call it a day and go get some dinner.
        Inkscape’s own stomach responded with a growl of its own, before she could say anything. “Maybe that would be best.” She blushed. 
        
        They ventured through the Everfree Forest, on the path back to the library in Ponyville. They decided to bring the diary with them. Twilight really wanted to read about Celestia’s view of Nightmare Moon’s banishment. Inkscape personally wanted to know more about this parasitic magic called the Nightmare. The two mares arrived back at the library just as Luna was raising the moon. They prepared grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. Spike had already gorged himself sick on snacks, while they were away. He was laying in his basket, holding his bloated stomach, as Twilight chastised him.
        “Too bad we couldn’t find anything to clue us in about the drought.” Inkscape commented as they ate.
        Twilight blew on a spoonful of soup. “Well you found the diary of Princess Celestia. Even if it has nothing to do with the drought and heat, I’m sure there is knowledge to be gained from it.”
        Staring thoughtfully at her sandwich, Inkscape said, “You know, I have never heard of the magic called “The Nightmare before, have you? Granted, I am not the most studious of ponies, since I graduated school, I would have thought that I would have heard about it at least once, especially after attending Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. The place specializes in magic and magic history.”
        Twilight rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Now that you mention it, I have never heard about it either, and I studied under Celestia herself for most of my academic career. It’s certainly not in any of the books I’ve read, but Celestia clearly knows about it. I wonder why she would keep it a secret?”
        “Maybe sometime you can ask her.” Inkscape suggested, as she levitated a spoon of soup into her mouth. “You know, if you are close to Princess Celestia, maybe you could ask her for leads on the drought.”
        “Celestia has been around for a very long time. The fact that she hasn’t contacted me concerning the heat and drought must mean there’s nothing to worry about.” Twilight reasoned with herself.
        The words of Princess Luna echoed in Inkscape’s mind. “You must remain in Ponyville, Inkscape. It is imperative. Do not go home, not until your task is complete.” She wasn’t sure why she thought of it then. The memory was so strong, it was almost as if somepony was whispering it in her ear. “Hey Twilight…?
        “Hmm?” The princess vocalized through a mouth stuffed full of grilled cheese. 
        Maybe now wasn’t the best time. She giggled. “Nevermind. It’s not important right now.”

        Inkscape headed upstairs to the guestroom. She sat down at the desk, and took the phoenix quill Twilight had gifted her in her magical grip. She flipped open the journal and began jotting down her thoughts on the day.
        
        Today Twilight Sparkle and I ventured through the Everfree Forest to the Palace of the Two Sisters. It’s where Princesses Celestia and Luna grew up. It must have been so long ago! I wonder what they were like as fillies. How much older than Luna is Celestia? Such trivial questions I have. Maybe I will find some answers in the Diary I found in the Palace’s library this afternoon. It was written by Celestia herself, about a thousand years ago!
        That dream is still at the back of my mind, however. Maybe Princess Luna really was walking with me in my dreams. But I have had vivid dreams before, but her voice was so clear, like she was talking right next to me. Coming to think of it, the entire thing seemed too real to be a  dream at all. Princess Luna assured me I was dreaming, but added the perplexing detail that it was also reality. She also left me with a warning not to return home until my task was complete. I don’t know what that task could be. Maybe it’s figuring out the source of this drought? Gee, I am getting tired. I think it is time for me to go to sleep. Maybe this will all make more sense in the morning.
        - Inkscape

        Inkscape wiggled her way beneath the covers of the plush canopy bed. Fatigue suddenly overcame her, as she rested her head on the pillows. It had been a rather long day. Maybe tomorrow she could get a better look at that diary. She wasn’t sure why it attracted her so much. Maybe it was because it was something nopony else had ever read? She shrugged off the notion and closed her eyes. 
        She found herself in the dark. She lit her horn to gather her surroundings. It looked like she was in the library from the Palace again. What she didn’t understand was why. She whipped her head around, when she heard slow hoofsteps coming from behind.
        “What? Who’s there?” She called into the shadows. She stood tall, trying to look brave and intimidating, though she doubted it was working. 
        Then, out of the shadows and into the light of her horn, stepped the Princess of the Night, Princess Luna. Inkscape let herself deflate like a balloon, dropping her act. “Inkscape.”
        Her ears fell back, as the alicorn addressed her by name. “Yes, Princess Luna?” She gave a quick bow. 
        “I have grave news from Canterlot, and I fear Twilight Sparkle will need your assistance soon,” Spoke the dark princess, her face half-hidden in the surrounding shadows. Her eyes, Inkscape noticed, were very tired, but she couldn’t find the courage to ask the mysterious princess about her appearances. 
        “Twilight is a princess, she doesn’t need help from me,” Inkscape said, “and she has the Elements of Harmony and her friends. They have saved Equestria several times over.”
        Luna shook her head slowly. “Have you forgotten what you have seen today? The Elements of Harmony were absorbed by the Tree of Harmony in order to maintain peace within and contain the Everfree Forest.”
        “But what does that have to do with me, and what is this task you told me about last time?”
        “For now, your task is to assist Twilight Sparkle. I would like you to encourage her to read more of Celestia’s diary, for I fear events written there may be about to repeat themselves… or worse.” She stared into the shadows, her eyes fixed on something Inkscape could not see.  “I must go now. Should Twilight and her friends decide to go to Canterlot, you must go with them.”
        “But last time you told me to stay in Ponyville.” Inkscape protested.
        Luna fixed her aqua gaze on the unicorn. “Things are getting more serious than before, Inkscape.” Inkscape shuddered, as the deity used her name once more. “Help Twilight and the others. Your talent may become most critical. Time is short for me now. Other things call for my attention.” She gave Inkscape a small smile and gently touched her chest gently with a hootip. “Whenever in doubt, trust your heart, young unicorn. You are stronger than you believe.” She turned and walked into the shadows once more.
        “Luna, wait!” But the Princess was with her no longer.