Trixie didn't know why she felt compeled to enter this part of the Everfree Forest. She had heard the stories about it, of the criminals that get banished there to survive or sucumb to their fates. Celestia couldn't bring herself to execute anyone, so let nature run it's course instead.

Suddenly, a filly walked out in her path. She was young with a gray coat and blonde mane and tail, and bore a magnifying glass cutie mark. The eye contact with the distant child was signal enough to follow her.

Soon, she found herself in a large clearing, where the remains of a formerly prosperous village stood. The eerie silence amplifying the looming meanace of the forest, actually gave the sky blue unicorn a headache.

“She has the mark.....” a voice croaked.

Trixie was too terrified to bask in this random praise. More voices ominously cried out, deriding her for daring to bring a mark into their village.

“He's watching you, you know.” the filly spoke up. “This village was punished by Celestia, now HE keeps us alive and constantly reliving our punishment as an insult to her.”

“Who...” Trixie couldn't speak as she saw the ponies the other voices belonged to. They seemed to rise from the ground like oil, or ooze from the shadows.

“He feels that we are the ultimate example of Celestia's tyranical ways. We suffer for eternity until she finally dies.” the filly continued.

“Who...why....” Trixie's knees were banging together, and her spine locked up in fright.

“He hates Celestia most of all. Whereas she is the light that gives life, he is the darkness that reveals all.”

“I thought....Luna....was the darkness....”

“No...Luna is the night. The darkness HE is, is the kind where anypony can reveal their true selves, because everypony can hide....”

“She has the mark.....” the shadow ponies continued to drone.

Trixie finally felt the invisible grip on her release, and she took off in the opposite direction. What in pony hell was going on?

The Doctor backed his way out of Sugarcube Corner, declining anymore cupcakes from the pink party pony, and turned only to collide with Trixie.

“What's got you in such a fright?” he asked, untangling himself from her limbs. She looked terribly sleep deprived. Has she looked in a mirror since then?

Without any words, she got up and retreated back to her trailer. Huddling under the covers for the rest of the night.

Back at the castle ruins, Princess Luna sighed as she closed the last of the books brought to her by Twilight Sparkle. Her magic allowed her to absorb the knowledge within them rather quickly, and she was up to speed on what had happened while she was...well...gone.

But she knew that public records were never complete, especially when it came to matters of royal importance. Then she realized, that she could convince her sister to help explain to Twilight more of what she wanted to know.

Using her magic to produce a scroll and ink, she began writing.

Dear, Celly

Your student, Twilight Sparkle, had come to me with questions of dire importance. If her accouts are correct, I fear that a problem we felt we have solved so long ago, has returned.

Unfortunately, due to my lapse in memory, I am unable to help her. Please, provide her with any knowledge you feel she must know. I have faith that whatever secrets you keep, are with good reason. I wasn't to happy about what we had to do that day either.

In the meantime, I will be here, at the remains of our fillyhood home, in an attempt to further fill in the gap in my memories. This is something I must do on my own.

Luna thought for a moment. She didn't want Celestia's interference due to the potential for her to block out more memories than recover. She trusted her sister, but not when it came to telling the whole truth.

Do not worry about me, sister. Twilight needs your help now more than I do. As long as I make the night come on time, there is nothing to fret.

Sincerely, your loving sister

Luna

With a flash of her horn, the message was on it's way. She then turned her gaze to the horizon, seeing the sunlight slowly rising. Luna knew she was awake now, and would get her message. She got to her hooves, and began the ritual of lowering the moon once more. She had to keep her appointments too, after all.

With the morning light came some uninvited guests to Twilight's abode. Pulling herself from bed at the sound of banging hooves on the front door, she trotted downstairs to see what the noise was about. The Doctor had beat her to the door, and answered it with a warm smile.

“Ah! Brillaint! You all came! Onward and upward then! This way! To the basement!” he began directing the group. Twilight couldn't help but stare in shock at the scene playing out before her. There was that unicorn from the fashion show, and that cross eyed Pegasus that seemed to be everywhere.

Then there was that ashen colored pony, with the trebel clef cutie mark and chocolate mane.

And last but not least, of all the ones to attend this strange party, Gilda, who looked surprisingly calm and almost sad.

The Doctor had slid up next to the startled unicorn. “Terribly sorry, Twilight. Party and all of that.”

With those words he was off, leaving a very confused unicorn alone in her study.