My Dearest Twilight Sparkle,

I hope this letter finds you well. I apologize for taking too much time to respond. You see, your letter has filled me with quite a bit of doubt and concern. I have been unsure as how to answer your questions. I am unsure if you are ready for the answers. Still, I have come to the conclusion that I should just answer all of your questions simply and honestly.

Horace W. Martingale was indeed an adjunct professor at Canterlot University for some seven years. This was well before you were foaled. He left the university after failing to secure tenure. There was a bit of scandal, really. This, and his resignation, was really due to interdepartmental politics rather than any incompetence on his part. He was a fine scientist and instructor. To say he is “retired” from the university is an exaggeration on his part. Although he is an old pony now and perhaps he means “retired” in the looser sense of the term. I would not old this against him. That said, his expertise is in the physical sciences; I can offer know comments as to his qualities as an ethnologist or folklore historian.

As for the “recent publicity in Hoofington” which he mentions, I believe I have the answer for that. Hoofington has been experiencing a recent crime wave. Some pony has been robbing the graves in Hoofington's cemetery. As you may know, Hoofington was one of the brighter jewels in my crown many years ago. In was a major boom town and center of Equestria's lumber industry. Those timbers in the houses of Ponyville came out of Hoofington. That was many generations ago. Hoofington's population has shrunk from hundreds of thousands to less than a thousand today. The graveyard is quite large in comparison. Furthermore, the population which is left has degenerated into slovenliness and criminality. I have no doubt that some hooligan has been raiding graves for jewelery and other heirlooms to pawn in Canterlot. It has become a major scandal in Hoofington and talk of the town. It would be elsewhere, but I have personally asked the Editor-in-Chief not to publish any story on the subject. I find it distasteful. It appears Professor Martingale is unaware that the news has not reached outside of town. We believe you understand.

As for the materials mentioned in his letter, this has caused me the greatest concern. I had hoped to save this discussion until much later in your studies, when you were ready. There is magic in this world, Twilight, that is much more powerful than my own. There are secrets of this universe which even I don't understand. They frighten me. There are some texts on the subject at the library in Canterlot University which I keep under lock and key. I let no student read them, and only the faculty have limited access to them. This must have been how Martingale became aware of them. The Ponakotic Manuscripts are, or I should say were, a series of scripts in an unknown language that predate my own foaling. No one knows what they actually contained or what has become of them over the centuries. There was at least one alleged translation made many hundreds of years ago, although how any one can translate an unknown language is anyone's guess. This work was a translation and exegesis by a mad arabian horse named Aarif Aswad, out of Damarescus. The Equestrian translation of this work is known as the Neckernomicon. There is a copy in my library, and it is arguably the darkest piece I keep in private collection.

As for what to do about any of this? Do nothing. I have matters under control, and I ask that you keep out of this. Please do not be concerned. All of these matters are unrelated, and I assure you this is another case of superstition and an overactive imagination of getting the better of ponies. This situation will resolve itself without any interference from you, and I ask you not to disrupt your own studies in Canterlot.

I am sorry this has darkened your door at all.

With love and affection,

HRH, Princess Celestia

P.S. It is a good idea to keep ponies out of the Everfree Forest. There are many natural dangers within, and there is simply no reason for ponies to enter the woods in the first place.

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