"So, you're not mad anymore that Scootaloo stole the ship?"

Spike propped his head up with one of his arms as it lay on the wooden table in the centre of the room. The castle's main study, where Twilight did much of her research organisation, was quite similar to the throne room except it didn't have the high ceilings or thrones and it was much smaller of a room with no natural light. Okay, it wasn't much like the throne room except that there was a large round table in the middle—composed of wood rather than magical crystal—with a few chairs around it. Spike sat in one of these, leaned over the table, watching as Twilight laid out the many papers and cards she had been holding on the table's wooden surface.

"Oh, no," Twilight said, looking up from her work. "I mean, I was never really angry that she had stolen it—though I'm still pretty sad that I don't have the ship here anymore, or that I didn't get to go out into space. No, I'm just worried about her. I was afraid, Spike—you know, we all were—and I thought she wouldn't last a few days out there. I don't even know if she had any food!"

"...didn't you put some of those shitty foodballs or whatever on there?" Spike asked, rolling his eyes.

"Watch your language, Spike! And Gamsco's aren't bad! Maybe a little dry, but they'll keep you with enough energy to go a few days."

Spike sighed. "Still doesn't make 'em taste good," he muttered.

Twilight ignoring him, looked back down at her notes. "No, I'm glad that Scootaloo took the ship if that's what she really needed to do. If that... if that's what would satisfy her enough to stay alive. As much as I wish she were here or that we could just talk to her... all that wishing won't do anything. She is where she is and we've got to count on Doc Zed and these kids to find her. Then, hopefully, we can get her to come back home." Neither Twilight nor Spike said anything more for a minute or two; Spike just watched as Twilight's eyes scanned the papers and then shifted them around as she remembered what their contents were.

"So, who exactly is this Doc Zed?" Spike asked finally.

"Well, we didn't have much time to talk, but I found out that he's a magical innovator and inventor!" Twilight looked up, grinning. "And he's actually working on the spaceship—he made a few modifications, of course, but I said that was okay. Imagine—when Scootaloo comes back, we'll have alien technology right here in Equestria!"

"Oh joy," Spike said. Although he tried to sound indifferent or annoyed, he really was excited—deep down, he had always wondered what it was like out there amongst the stars.

"Let's see..." Twilight reached across the table, pulling one sheet with large, scribbled writing in front of her. "He said a lot about this interplanetary government called the System Bureau of Cosmonautics—the Bureau for short—that's basically in charge of most of the planets in the solar system besides ours. They elect representatives to these different councils that make the laws, but there are also alicorn leaders from each planet who are permenantly in charge."

"Oh, so that kinda sounds like here," Spike said. "Wait... speaking of things that are like here, how did he speak Equestrian?"

Twilight looked at him and blinked. "Oh, ponyfeathers, I knew I forgot something important! Gah... I'll have to ask next time he calls."

"Couldn't you just call him again?" Spike asked.

"I wish, but he was pretty clear that the Bureau monitors almost all incoming calls, especially if not protected with certain technologies. Apparently he's got a schedule that has all the times it's safe to call."

Spike rolled his eyes. "No wonder you like the stallion—you sound perfect for each other."

Twilight giggled. "Don't be silly—he's just our only link to an alien world! And hopefully our key to getting Scootaloo back."

"So, what did you want to ask me about, then?" Spike asked. "Surely it can't be about whether you should ask this Zed guy out or whatever."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Cut it out, Spike. Just because it's early doesn't mean you need to be snarky."

"Mehhh."

"No, I actually do have an important question—thanks for reminding me. I guess my question is... what do you think about the forcefield?"

"What do you mean?" Spike asked, surprised enough to lift his head off the table and sit up straight. "You didn't say anything about that before... did this guy have something to say about it?"

As Twilight filled him in on what Doc Zed had told her about the outside of the forcefield and then what they'd worked out about its nature, Spike went from having an eyebrow raised to nearly having his mouth agape.

"But... where would all of that magical power come from?" Spike asked, tilting his head. "I don't know too much about that sort of thing, but wouldn't it have to come from... well, you know..."

Twilight nodded, a sombre expression on her face. "Yes, Spike—as far as I know, only alicorn magic could be enough to power such a construct."

"Celestia above..."

"I know, I know. And that goes back to what I want to ask you: what should I do?"

"Well, what are the options?" Spike asked, leaning back in his chair. "Ask Celestia about it... or not ask Celestia about it?"

"I mean... yeah," Twilight said, brushing one of her bangs away from her face. "Or Luna, I guess. And maybe they'd know more about the Bureau, too. But then... then I'd have to admit to them that I'd been working on the spaceship for months, under their very noses, without saying a word." A moment passed, silent.

"Well... what's the worst that could happen?" Spike asked.

"I... I don't know."