"It was... an oversight on my part, Spike."

Spike raised an eye ridge at my answer.

"An... oversight?" he repeated in bemusement, "what kind of oversight?"

I nonchalantly trotted further into the room as I spoke, figuring it would be best to act natural in this type of situation. past experiences told me I had something of a bond with this little dragon, and I didn't want to ruin that, so I lied... and to my surprise, it was rather easy.

"I tried to cast a voice mimicking spell I had found in a book in the Archives," I explained as I levitated my saddlebags off my back and onto a nearby desk, "it worked, but I haven't quite figured out how to reverse it yet."

"Oh... well that isn't good," Spike replied, blinking in surprise, "what are you gonna do? Can you go back to the Archives?"

I thought on the answer, trying to remember where the Archives were. Thankfully the memory came to me, and to my amusement, it turned out I actually had seen a book detailing a voice mimicking spell. After a moment I slowly nodded and gave Spike a small smile.

"I suppose I'll have to if I want my old voice back, right?"

"Yeah, you should do that," Spike agreed with another visible shudder, "for some reason, hearing you talk is really creeping me out."

"Really?" I asked in slight confusion, "why is that?"

"I dunno exactly," Spike replied with a shrug, "when you talk, your voice just kind of sounds... fake, I guess? I don't really know how to explain it, but it's definitely creepy."

I frowned.

That was the second time I had been told I was acting 'creepy', and I didn't like it. I now realized from Spike's reaction that using another's voice wasn't normal, but I hadn't known it would cause such a negative reaction.

This was something I needed to remedy, and quickly. I searched my memory for something—some kind of spell that would help me get back to the archive quickly so I could be back in time to go with Spike to the party.

Teleportation?

It appeared to be something I had been working on getting right for quite some time, but hadn't learned enough to properly use yet. I wasn't sure why exactly, the spell itself didn't seem all that difficult as I ran through the steps in my head.

I nodded to myself and turned back to Spike.

"Alright Spike," I said, lighting up my horn, "I'm heading back to the Royal Archives for a bit to get ahold of that spell."

"Wait, what?" Spike asked incredulously, "the party's in half an hour, Twilight! How are you gonna—"

His voice was cut off as I vanished in a magenta flash and reappeared an instant later in front of the large double doors leading into the Royal Archives. I turned to the startled guard standing beside the entrance.

"M-Miss Sparkle?!" the guard cried in alarm before quickly regaining his composure, "I... I didn't realize you had mastered the teleportation spell already," he gave a sheepish chuckle, "I uh... wasn't expecting you to show up again so soon."

"I just needed to check up on a spell real quick, First Strike," I replied with a friendly smile. I saw him give the same reaction as Spike and quickly moved to explain myself, "I know I sound weird, but this is why I'm here. I'm trying to fix... my... voice?"

I frowned in confusion as my voice suddenly changed on its own. I wasn't sure if the spell I had intended to research would be of any help, but I was willing to try it anyway. Now I felt there was no need to, as the voice that was now coming out of my mouth sounded much more natural.

The guard seemed just as confused as I was, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Well, it looks like you didn't need to do... whatever you were gonna do after all," he said with a chuckle, "did you still want to enter the Archives?"

"No, that's okay," I replied slowly, distracted by my thoughts and the oddness of the situation, "I have a party to get to."

"Oh, okay then," the guard replied, looking somewhat dejected, "I'll uh, I'll see you later then I guess, Miss Sparkle..."

I nodded absently as I lit my horn and vanished once more. When I reappeared back inside the tower, I found Spike standing at the far end of the room reading what looked like a scroll of some sort.

When he heard me pop into the room he turned to me and called out, waving the letter in his claw.

"Oh, hey Twilight!" he called, running over to where I was, "I just got a letter from the Princess. You gotta read this," he held out the letter, which I took in my magic. I looked back to Spike, who shifted on his feet nervously, "it... it looks like something happened, and it doesn't look good."

I raised an eyebrow and turned my attention to the letter.

My Faithful Student,

I fear I may not have much time to write this, so I'll make this short. Earlier today, I sensed a presence unlike any I have ever come across before, and initially, I was unsure of what to make of it. Now however, things have changed and I must investigate the matter further. I'll withhold any more details until I know more, but for the time being, I'd like you and Spike to make your way to Ponyville to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. I will send you the details via Spike so be sure to look them over thoroughly. I don't know how long this investigation will take, but I should be ready by the time the sun needs to be raised. And before I forget, I've made arrangements for you and Spike to stay in the Golden Oaks Library in town for tonight, just ask Mayor Mare for more information when you get there. Please await the chariot outside your tower, as it should be there shortly. On one final note, I'd like you to try and make friends while your out and about in Ponyville.

~Princess Celestia

As I finished reading the letter, I heard a loud belch follow by the telltale fwoomph of dragon fire being released. I looked up from the letter to see Spike holding another scroll.

I pulled the other scroll from Spike's grip and held it in front of me, briefly scanning the information on the events I was supposed to oversee. I found it hard to focus on the words, as my mind kept going back to what I had just read as well as what had happened in front of the Archives.

The letter had been so... formal compared to the letters I remembered receiving in the past, which meant that whatever she was investigating must've been something serious.

Somehow though, I had gotten the feeling she was talking about me, and if that was the case, was it about what I had done to those three mares? The more I thought about it, the more I realized it may very well have been a possibility.

After all, I wasn't quite sure myself of what had happened with those mares to be honest, but they had seemed okay when I left, if a bit less talkative—well... a lot less talkative.

...Maybe less... responsive, would've been a better word.

In any case, I may not have known exactly what I did—and it may have helped me understand a bit more about communication—but I had the slight impression it may not have been exactly a good thing. It was that feeling that had pushed me to hide the whole exchange from Spike.

"Um... so..."

I looked back up at Spike to see that he was shifting from foot to foot, looking as though he wanted to ask something, but was afraid of the answer. I blinked and shook my head slightly before giving him an encouraging smile, prompting him to continue.

"So, ah... were you able to get that book with the voice spell?" he asked a bit nervously, "because, y'know, the chariot's gonna be here any minute to pick us up and with your voice that way it is..."

He trailed off and gave me a significant look, to which I replied with a small chuckle.

"It turns out I didn't need the spell after all, Spike," I responded, floating the letters into my saddlebags and levitating them over to me, "it kind of just... wore off on it's own."

"Oh, thank Celestia," he breathed, "glad I don't have to deal with that anymore, and you managed to finally get that teleportation spell down!" he beamed at me as we both made our way over to the entrance, "you've been working on that spell for months. I was starting to wonder if you'd ever get it."

It was true, I had been working on the spell for quite awhile, but I wondered why it had taken me so long. The spell itself really wasn't all that complicated—in fact, thinking back on all the spells I had yet to master so far, I felt the same way about each of them.

Why had it taken me so long to learn these spells?

Whatever the reason was, I decided to set those thoughts aside and focus on my trip to Ponyville. Just in the last few minutes or so, my communication skills had already gotten a lot better, and I couldn't wait to get to the little village and meet new ponies.

Even better, the Princess had outright told me to make some new friends, something I had every intention of doing from the begi—

"...light? Twilight!"

"Huh? What? What's—" vertigo briefly took hold of me and I would've fallen over had it not been for the wall at the top of the staircase just outside the tower entrance. I shook my head and straightened up once more, blinking a few times to clear my vision, "...Spike? What happened?"

"You suddenly... locked up right outside the door with this weird look on your face, then just kind of... fell over," he replied worriedly, "seriously Twilight, what's going on with you today?"

"I... I don't know, Spike," I replied with a troubled frown, "I guess I... just don't feel good right now."

"Maybe we should tell the Princess you—"

"No!" both Spike and I winced at my sudden outburst and I tried again in a more measured tone, "no, that's alright, Spike, I just... need a minute is all, and besides," I looked towards the main castle and saw a pair of pegasi making their way over to the tower, "our ride's here anyway."

"I... well... if you say so, Twi," Spike replied, clearly unconvinced, "just... don't push yourself, okay?"

"I won't, Spike," I replied with what I hoped was a reassuring smile, "I promise."

As Spike and I made our way down to where the chariot had just landed, I wondered as to what exactly had happened, and why I had been so excited to meet a bunch of small town ponies I knew nothing about.

Well, if it's what the Princess wanted, and if I could help the Summer Sun Celebration run smoothly, I guess I could deal with it for one day.