As they arrived back in Ponyville, Twilight and her group was welcomed by Rarity, Apple Jack, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. "Welcome back!" they all said.

Rarity added, "You're back early. I expected this to take longer."

"Yeah, we kinda got lucky, finding Daunting Potion's original recipe." said Moondancer. "Which reminds me..." She gave them each a vial of the antidote. "In case one of us walks into Queen Chrysalis. Dunk this antidote on her."

"Where are the others?" asked Spike. "I would expect Pinkie to put the most effort into a welcome back... she prepares a party, doesn't she?"

"Yes." confirmed Rainbow, "Now let's go to the library. Pink should be done by now."

Minuette and Lyra were the last to leave the welcome back party – which is something as Pinkie is normally the one to leave last – leaving Starlight, Moondancer, Twilight and Spike alone in the Oak.

"Living in a library. Comfy." commented Starlight, "What now?"

"We get you settled in." replied Twilight. "I will start with your teachings next week. The rest of this week will be spend with you warming up to Ponyville. And I need to work on a little, personal project, now that the elixir antidote is done. Finally."

"That makes sense."

When Starlight left the library to get a feel for the town, Twilight cracked open the book. While she is weary of its contents and Sombra's connection to it – there has to be one – the symbol on it can't be ignored! She loves Twilight Velvet and Night Light, but she is curious about her birth parents. After all, she is born an Alicorn which isn't normal. Her birth parent's aren't even why she cares, her wings are!

Apropos. "When I am alone, I can drop that disguise." And stretch the caged wings. "Mm, I wonder how Celestia would feel being constantly under such a disguise…" She then had an idea, she'll just need to wait for Starlight to return. But now, the tome has all her attention.

She struggled to read it. It was dark magic, the darkest to exist if Sombra's attention to it was anything to go by. But even then, it contains a spell she could use… then again, can she trust Sombra's words? Probably not. But can she trust Celestia? Maybe finding her parents can weaken Celestia's pressure.

She was ripped out of her thoughts and starring contest with the first page of the tome when Spike came into her room. "Letter from the Princess!"

She levitated the letter to her.

Dear Twilight,

I know you're still frustrated with me about keeping your status a secret, so I offer you to plan this year's Summer Sun Celebration again.

Albeit this year it will be held in Applewood, near Las Pegasus. Despite your wonderful planning – another reason why you should plan it again – Ponyville was overwhelmed with the outside visitors. Then again, a small town like Ponyville has not the capacity in form like hotels as Canterlot does. Las Pegasus has many hotels and resorts, so it should cover Applewood's shortcomings.

"I can't believe it had been a year since coming here." she said. "So much changed."

"Yes, but isn't that good?" Spike answered.

"Yes. But it is crazy what had happened over the last year."

She continued to read.

I understand if you don't want to plan it again. As I said, this year it is held in Applewood, which means you would need to leave Ponyville again. I understand if you want to rest for now. Not to mention, you just took your second student under your wing.

Now, there is a second matter as of why I write you. While you were in the Crystal Empire, have you noted any oddities? Reminds of Sombra's magic maybe?

In best regards,

Celestia.

Spike took out a scroll and feather, ready to in Twilight's response. "Spike, I actually want to write this one myself."

"I see, you're still frustrated." With that, he left and Twilight got on to start her letter.

"Now the hardest part. How to start."

What to refer her as? She doesn't feel like calling Celestia 'princess'. She is still too frustrated.

Celestia,

I don't want to.

"Can I write this?"

Like you said, I just returned. I need a break. And I started to work on a project. And honestly…

I don't care that I am not a known princess. My issue is, I have to lie to my friends! I couldn't care less about the title.

Let someone else plan this year's Sun Celebration. Give someone else a shot.

And no, I have not noted anything suspicious or relating to Sombra while being there. Why do you ask, is Sombra back?

Greetings,

Twilight

Twilight knew this wasn't a good letter, not to mention the blatant lie, but she didn't want to bother if Celestia doesn't want to bother giving her an answer. But she decided to send this letter to the princess.

Twilight uses this spell pretty rarely – she has Spike after all – but Twilight knows a spell to send letters without her dragon. She rarely uses it and has barely a grip on that spell for this very reason.

Celestia was just eating a bit of cake with her sister – who struggled to sleep as she worried for Sombra's break into her dream realm - when the letter Twilight send off mere minutes ago popped into existence and slapped against Celestia's face.

This got her sister laughing. "I see! She used the spell again!"

Celestia ignored Luna and read the letter. 'Ah, she is still frustrated with me. I'm sorry, Twilight.' She told Luna, "Twilight rejected to plan this year's celebration. Understandable, I admit."

Twilight skimmed though the tome to search for the spell Sombra mentioned. She didn't find it. Then again, her skimming is also just reading normally, but not bothering to memorize the content and she came only a fourth though the book before Starlight came back. And into her room. While her disguise was off.

"Uh… had a spell gone wrong?" she asked not believing her eyes.

"My disguise failed." was all Twilight said. Looks like her plan had gone out the window. "Listen. I have no idea why I have wings either. It is a long story."

Starlight sat onto the ground. "We have time and I want answers."

"Believe me. I also want answers." told her Twilight.

So Twilight told Starlight everything… besides the tome and Sombra. She may or may not have slipped into a rant about Celestia.

"Wait, not even Luna knows and she cast some spell on Cadence to keep her silent?"

"Yes." confirmed Twilight. "And on Crowley as well."

"No wonder you're angry with the Princess." agreed Starlight. "I… would be angry too."

Luna was raising the moon when Celestia got another letter to her face.

Dear Celestia,

I swear it was an accident! I accidentally revealed my true self to Starlight. She walked in unannounced when I had the disguise down as I thought she would be out for a few hours!

Starlight promised she won't tell anyone!

Greetings,

Twilight and Starlight

Celestia sighed. "Another accidental reveal this year? I hope this doesn't become a new habit."

"Now… are you going to 'accidentally' reveal this secret of yours to the others?" asked Starlight.

"Yes. I already have an idea for Rarity." explained Twilight. "One that can't be discredited to be intentional! You see, while I won't plan this year's celebration, I am kind of required to celebrate with Celestia, partly to keep the student cover up. Rarity would want to make me a dress, considering how Applewood is."

"Everything is a show, I know." replied Starlight. "I assume your plan is that she touches the necklace, deactivates the disguise, considering that the necklace is somewhat of a sore topic still?"

"Exactly!"

"Smart. Taking advantage of your friend's quirks." said Starlight. "What about the others?"

"No idea."

Twilight's plan failed. Rarity and some of the others got asked by this year's planner, one peculiar Lady Quill, to help her to plan the event as they have experience from last year. So Rarity is already in Applewood.

"Are you surprised she left to Applewood as soon as she was asked by that scribe?" asked Starlight. "You know how eager Rarity can be."

"Not really, Starlight." said Twilight. "Well, it isn't important that she knows. I just wait for the next Galloping Gala. And continue to ask Celestia, wear her down."

"Mm, considering your track record with that crystal king and the Changelings, I wonder if there will be an event that reveals your secret that even the princess can't suppress." said Starlight, lightly laughing, "Even if it is just Princess Luna discovering her sister keeps a secret from her."

"Is it wrong that I hope this happens?" countered Twilight. She then shook her head. "Albeit I would want to avoid another Nightmare Moon situation."

"I am sure everyone wants to avoid that." shuddered Starlight. "Now, I know you don't want to start teaching just yet, but there is this spell I struggle with…"

Twilight's day started by receiving a letter from Rarity, criticizing her for rejecting this task. Albeit one line struck with Twilight for some reason. To reject this is so unlike you, Twilight. And she can't argue that.

What was different now? Besides that she got more angry at Celestia, frustration of over a year finding its limits. Her eyes then wandered to the tome.

'Don't fault the book you barely utilized, little Star.' spoke Sombra's disembodied voice.

Speaking to this annoying soul.

'You haven't even read the spell I told you about.' he mocked her.

She rolled her eyes and sighed. Twilight then continued with the book. There she found two things and neither was the spell. First of all, she saw that someone – probably Sombra – had ripped out a page. Secondly, there is a letter inlaid.

"I don't even know what language this is!"

While Twilight can't speak all languages, she at least recognized to what linguistic family a language belongs to. She can't even do that for the script. "Oh, Sombra…"

'It isn't even a difficult riddle I gave you. You should solve it in no time.' he said. 'Probably even before this year's celebration starts.'

"Is this a challenge?"

'Only if you want it to be…'

Starlight walked into Moondancer at a cafe. There Moondancer asked about Twilight as a teacher.

"Oh, she is pretty good. Then again, she, she is the Bearer of the Element of Magic." answered Starlight.

Moondancer wasn't impressed with the answer. As she levitated her cup, she replied, "I assume you discovered the secret?"

"The feathery one?"

"Yes." confirmed Moondancer. "So you know she is an Alicorn. Now listen, Twilight hates being treated like a princess, that's why we call her nicknames based on that – outside of earshot of the uninitiated – my favorite being Priny." explained Moondancer. "Now, for people who know, there are Princess Celestia, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, Twilight Velvet, Night Light – that are her parents – me, Minuette, Lyra, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, Spike, the Bat pony Crowley, three fillies called Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Oh, and Trixie."

"That's quite a lot. At the same time it isn't." said Starlight. "No wonder she want to reveal it."

"Yes, but the Princess is being a headache about it." said Moondancer.

"Mm. Priny wants to pretend to accidentally reveal her secret to the other bearers." said Starlight, "She originally wanted to start with Rarity, but…"

"Rarity is in Applewood." concluded Moondancer. "Lets go to Twilight. I would have a few ideas for that."

So the two Unicorn mares returned to the library. There they found Twilight surrounded by books, books and even more books. Moondancer picked up a book. "Languages, really? Don't you think knowing more languages than Princess Celestia is enough?" Starlight was surprised hearing that.

"I don't know more languages than Celestia, I just know more alive languages than her. If you count dead languages, then she knows more." countered Twilight. "And I am not learning a language, Moony. I try to figure out what this language is." She showed the letter she found to the two. "And to translate it. Preferably before the celebration starts."

Moondancer took a closer look to the paper. "I do not recognize the language. Where did you found this?"

"In the Crystal Empire." answered Twilight shortly. "I'm such an egg! It must be ancient Crystalian! Spike! We need to send a message to Cadence, I need to ask for a book to translate this."

"Don't you want to confirm that it is ancient Crystalian first?" chimed Starlight in.

"You… are right." said Twilight, calming down. "The celebration isn't for another week. I will pay the Empire a quirk visit."

"We just returned from there." said Starlight. "You go alone. Workaholic."

"She is right, Priny." said Moondancer. "Now about your idea to accidentally reveal your secret. I would have an idea for Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy."

Shining Armor was happy, but also confused to see his sister back in the Empire again. He understood when she explained why. To translate an old text. He knew better than to bother her. Shining just hoped she wasn't overworking herself with all that research and traveling.