Pinkie gave a look of concern, "But you need your sleep. Sleep is very important for cognitive and physical function as well as memory repair, and allows the body to expel waste matter not only from our muscles but from our neuron synapses as well. And then there are dreams, which may be a function of memory repair but they can also be a source of creativity and inspiration as well as sometimes being really fun! There have been studies that…"

"Yes Pinkie," interrupted Twilight, "I know all that already. The thing is that I am not fatigued in any way. Whatever it is that is happening to me seems to have eliminated my need for sleep. Of course the added benefit of it is I can now work on my projects around the clock."

"You used to do that before." said Spike remembering Twilight's many all-nighters she used to pull.

"Yes, but the point is that before I would do that to the point of exhaustion, which is not what is happening to me now."

Spike then pointed to the machine in the corner, "So what's that thing?"

"What that was originally supposed to be a CT scanner, but I realized that if I used magnetic resonance instead it would produce a more accurate picture of what is going on inside my head. However I soon realized that my own primitive computing apparatus will simply not be up to the task of making it work. I mean how in all of Equestria could I have ever thought that vacuum tubes were an ideal method of performing complex computations? Now this is where I have run into a bit of a problem. I can easily work out the necessary circuits and programming but trying to dope the silicon crystals with gallium is proving to be really fiddly work, and it's forcing me to think along different lines about what would be the best method of building these integrated circuits…and Spike, stop eating my silicon wafers."

Spike stopped mid chew with a surprised look on his face, "Mwa? Miim nom meeneen anymeem."

Twilight then looked at Pinkie who now had a look of utter confusion on her face, "You are here to remind me about Fluttershy's birthday party. Sorry that I have not gotten together sooner with you, but now that I no longer have the need for sleep, I am starting to lose track of time. Do not worry though; I will be there tonight to help you out with setting up for the party, and I will have a special trick for the party ready by then."

"Cool." Pinkie said with a broad smile, then the look of confusion returned, "Er, wait a minute, did I actually ask you about that first?"

"No, I caught a flash of it in your mind, and it reminded me about tonight."

Pinkie's eyes lit up metaphorically, "You mean you can read my mind?"

"Well not exactly. What I can see is…"

"Tell me what I'm thinking!" squealed Pinkie.

Twilight paused, showing a look of annoyance, and then concentrated on Pinkie, "Cupcakes."

"Okay that was too easy, I'm always thinking about cupcakes. Try again."

"Applejack. I really do not think that this…"

"Correct, try again."

"Mayor Mare."

"Yes…"

"Carousel Boutique…Cake twins….Forty-two….I am not saying that out loud…I do not even want to know what that is…Cherilee…Your family rock farm…Your fear that if you are not always on, ponies will not like you for who you are…"

The last response caused Pinkie to reel back in shock, before her face turned serious, "All correct except for the last one, I was thinking about my big sister Maud. I think I have had enough of this game and I should get back to working on Fluttershy's party. I will see you there before the party starts." With that Pinkie turned and walked up the stairs and out the door without her usual flamboyance.

Twilight's face remained impassive while Spike chided her, "I think that you might have upset her a little bit."

"Well I tried to warn her, but she kept pushing, and I ended up finding a deeper truth that she even hides from herself….and I TOLD you to stop eating MY SILICON WAFERS." Twilight's horn flared and a magical mallet construct appeared gently whacking Spike causing him to back away from the work bench with each hit.

"Okay…ow…okay…ow...I'm going…ow…."

That night the town hall was a buzz of activity. Lights could be seen flashing from the windows, blinking through various colour sequences to the thump-thump of the deep bass of a dance beat that could be distinctly heard, even felt, from a distance.

Fluttershy stood with Applejack outside the town hall, looking uncertain about going in. "I think I hear Twilight summoning us for some adventure in the Everfree Forest." said the meek yellow pegaus with the ever so slight tremor in her voice.

"Twilight is inside, sugar-cube. All yer friends are inside waitin' on th' birthday filly." said Applejack in a reassuring tone, before adding in a sing-song voice. "DJ Pon 3 is doin' th' music."

"She is a great DJ and I love her dance parties, but can I do this without having to be the centre of attention?"

"Well, it is yer birthday ther celebratin'. C'mon, ya know ya goin' to enjoy it."

"I know I'm going to enjoy being with friends. I know I'm going to enjoy getting presents. I know I'm going to enjoy dancing. I know I'm going to enjoy the food. By the way thank you for baking your delicious apple pies for tonight, I absolutely adore them."

Applejack smiled, "Aw shucks, 'twern't nuthin'."

"But every fibre of my being is screaming in terror right now."

A short laugh burst from Applejack's mouth before she could stifle it, and then she put a reassuring fore leg around Fluttershy before leading her into the hall.