Moondancer could not wait until she mastered long-distance personal teleportation. The steep and lengthy stairways of the School For Gifted Unicorns got old fast and were a thing she could very much do without.

Still, on the bright side, the exercise was good for staying in shape. Doubly on the bright side: Twilight Sparkle was with her.

"Something strikes me as odd, Twilight," Moondancer said to her colleague. "Some ponies might even call it crazy."

"What's that, Moondancer?" Twilight asked. Her face never left the book magically floating in front of her, nor did her eyes leave the words printed on its pages. Moondancer would have been awed—and worried for Twilight's safety—except she knew that Twilight must have walked this staircase hundreds of times in both directions.

Rather than a book, Moondancer stared into space as she walked. "We've learned so many things at school, but every once in a while, the seemingly mundane manages to completely surprise us. I mean, in today's science lab session, you and I used an electric current to separate water into its component elements."

"Basic electrolysis," Twilight replied, nose still in her book.

"'Basic' is exactly the word," Moondancer said. "It was simple and effective. But when we tried to accomplish the same thing with magic, nopony in class could make it work."

The corner of Twilight's mouth tugged into a smirk. "Well, Minuette did manage to instantly vaporize the water." She paused, before adding, "And the beaker with it."

"I still remember the scorch marks in the wall," Moondancer said, with a titter. "Leave it to her to overdo everything."

"Still, as usual, you raise a good point," Twilight said, still reading. "Some magiscientists believe that electricity is the rawest and most rudimentary form of magic one can bear witness to. Meanwhile, there are others that say the opposite is true."

"Yet both electricity and magic exist naturally in Equestria," Moondancer replied. "You and I simply channel the latter far more easily as unicorns."

Twilight closed her book. "You're right," she said, the same intent gaze she’d aimed at the book now on Moondancer. "So many living organisms and natural phenomena harbor either electric charges or magical potential—even us ponies! Unicorns cast spells, pegasi control the elements, and earth ponies manipulate... well, the earth." Twilight blinked, her gaze unfocusing.

Moondancer nodded. "We've, uh, all got our own specialties, yes," she said, trying to get Twilight back to the conversation.

It seemed to work. Twilight gasped, a smile blossoming on her face. Moondancer smiled back, her usual light-headed feeling manifesting itself in response to the sight.

"But do you think there'd ever be some way we can harness each others' potential?" Twilight asked. "As we saw today, sometimes electricity works where magic doesn't. It's a totally different power source than magic, but no less valid! Yet Canterlot still uses magic to power everything, from trains to cameras! Why is that?"

"Because it’s a predominantly unicorn city with access to lots of unicorn—" Moondancer gasped this time, her smile matching Twilight's in width. "You think it'd be better if, rather than always using one kind of energy, we used the right energy for the right job?"

"Exactly!" Twilight exclaimed, hopping in the air. "And in the end, we'd have multiple sources of energy that would work for everypony, instead of different races specializing in one particular, and possibly less suited, energy to achieve the same ends!"

"I like it!" Moondancer announced, nodding her head in satisfaction. Her expression turned thoughtful as she added, "Though I’m surprised nopony else has noticed this. It’s so simple! Even average unicorns know how magic-dependent Canterlot is."

Twilight put on a sly grin. "True. But we know a lot more than your average unicorn," she said, as she resumed walking. Finally reaching the end of the stairs, Twilight trotted across a grassy field that extended beyond the school’s grounds.

Moondancer matched Twilight's grin, and followed along. "That is true. So what are you proposing?"

Twilight pointed in front of her. "We see a problem before us that needs solving, Moondancer. I'm proposing you and I do what we always do. Because..." Twilight hesitated. "...well, you help me find answers."

Warmth rushed through Moondancer, coloring her cheeks. "The feeling's mutual, Twilight. I'd be glad to help." She looked straight at Twilight, smiling earnestly. "Just like always."

"So be it," Twilight said, unaware of Moondancer’s expression. "We'll crack the mysteries of magical energies, and make Equestria a better place." She stopped abruptly in front of a door. "Starting Monday."

Moondancer recognized the door as the entrance to Twilight's new home: a tower on palace grounds. She had no idea what lay beyond, but she did know that this was where the first half of her trip officially ended. The other half would be going back the way she came, and then back home. And she wouldn’t see Twilight again for days.

"Y-yeah," Moondancer said, putting a hoof behind her head. "Monday."

Twilight shuffled back and forth on her hooves. A thick silence filled the hallway.

"I..." Twilight averted her gaze from Moondancer, concentrating on a nearby shrub. "I'm so sorry. I promise one day, I'll invite you inside, a-and I'll have so many books to show you, and supplies, and even machines, and we'll have so much to talk about! It's... it's just—"

Moondancer placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder.

"Twilight," she said, hoping her voice didn't betray the pangs in her chest she worked to suppress. "I understand. This is the only place where you have shelter from the outside world. Where you can really have the space and time not only to yourself, but to be yourself. I know I'd go crazy without my house." She winked. "Nopony is let inside without advance notice."

Twilight smiled gratefully, eyes shining. "You do understand..." she said, voice wavering.

"Of course," Moondancer said. "So... only let me in when you're comfortable letting me in. And I promise I'll do the same. Okay?"

Twilight put her hoof over Moondancer’s. "Thanks, Moondancer," she said, giving it a squeeze.

Twilight opened the door as Moondancer reeled from the sudden, intimate gesture. She was so overwhelmed, she almost forgot the reason she’d followed Twilight this far. Just as Twilight was about to disappear into her tower, Moondancer blurted, "H-hey, Twilight?"

Twilight turned around.

"Um..." Moondancer fought another blush and failed miserably. "While you're waiting for me? Let this keep you company." She levitated a book from her saddlebag, presenting it to her. "I was, um, I was waiting for a 'right moment' to give it to you. Which was kind of silly now that I think about it. Moments aren’t 'right' or 'wrong'. They’re what you make of them. Right?"

"Right," Twilight agreed, as she scanned the cover. "But what book is this? Principles of Magic? I've already read—" Twilight gasped when she opened the cover. "First Edition? Oh my gosh! There are less than a dozen of these left in Equestria! Moondancer, how did you ever—"

Moondancer chuckled, cheeks still red. "The head librarian likes both of us, remember?" she said. "This was from her personal collection. She gave it to me a long time ago, and I've already memorized it from cover to cover, including the parts that were taken out of later editions. So, now it's your turn. Especially if we're going to crack all of magic's mysteries together."

"'To my friend, Twilight Sparkle,'" Twilight read aloud. "'Thanks for introducing me to the classics.'" She stepped up to Moondancer, her smile as wide as the hallway. "Thank you so much, Moondancer. I'll never forget this."

Moondancer nodded and smiled back. "It's the least I could do, Twilight. I hope you enjoy it."

"I'm sure I will." Twilight turned, and paused at her slightly ajar doorway. Finally, she said, "Well, I'll... see you in class on Monday."

"Yep," Moondancer agreed. "Unless you plan on coming to the library this weekend?"

Twilight shook her head. "Probably not. The other reason I don't normally have ponies over is because my place is a total mess. Right now you'd be swimming in books."

Moondancer giggled. "That doesn't sound so bad."

Twilight blushed. "Okay, maybe not when you put it that way. But I need to clean, organize, shelve, sort, do our homework, find time to study in the middle of everything, pen a—"

"W-whoa, it's okay!" Moondancer said, with a laugh. "Just don't spend so much time studying—or cleaning—that you forget to sleep."

Twilight giggled in return. "Look who's talking. Take care, Moondancer. I'll see you in a few days." She closed the door behind her.

Moondancer stayed, simply looking at the door. One day, she thought to herself. One day, there won't be anything between us.

With a light heart, she turned and walked back down the stairs.