Dear Princess Celestia;

I'm submitting this letter not as a friendship report, but rather as an account of the recent events concerning the pony named Stein. Princess Luna has said that she would like me to recount these details to you in person, but I figured that it would be best to catalog what has happened while the events are still fresh in my mind.

Day 1:

It had been a slow day at the library, no more so than usual. Some time after the sun had set, I heard a rapid knock on the door. Having sent Spike to bed, I went to answer the door myself. Before I could even reach the entrance, the speed and intensity of the knocking had increased substantially. As soon as I opened the door the visiting pony had managed to push his way into the library before I could offer so much as a welcome. I had barely enough time to recover before being bombarded with questions by a cloaked stallion of indeterminate age. I held my hoof up in an attempt to halt his verbal onslaught long enough to enter the conversation myself.

Noting my confused expression the pony introduced himself, “My apologies, I have been awaiting this moment for quite a long time. Allow me to introduce myself, my full title is Von Nicht aus Stein, but you may simply refer to me as Stein.” As he removed the hood from his head, he asked, “This is the residence of a Ms. Sparkle? Twilight Sparkle, if I'm not mistaken?” I only nodded noting his odd accent.

Finally able to observe the stranger for the first time, I note that, for his attempt at being a bit civilized, Stein appeared to be very unkempt. I could not determine if his disheveled appearance is caused by the distance he must have had to travel to get here or a something else entirely. The unicorn's light blue-gray coat was fairly dirty wherever his cloak failed had to cover, His mane and beard were both silver gray but had been either cut improperly or had been torn out in small clumps. My only thought at this point was that Rarity would nearly faint at the sight of this stallion, whom I could only assume was as old as my parents. I noticed, finally, that his pale green eyes never seem to focus on anything for any period of time, almost as if they were trying to take in every scant detail of his surroundings in the shortest amount of time possible. Refocusing myself, I dismissed these points as I finally answered Stein.

“Yes, I am Twilight Sparkle. Might I ask what brings you to visit the library at-” I strained to look at the clock, “-such a late hour?”

“I am only here regarding the research into the subject titled 'Pinkius Piecus'. I believe that your data may benefit my own research.”

Now, you might recall my Friendship Report regarding my discovery that I didn't have to completely understand something in order to believe that it was true. That lesson was brought on my a close study involving my friend Pinkie Pie and her “Pinkie Sense,” as she calls it. During my research, I had sent out some requests for information to see if abilities similar to Pinkie's had ever been observed before. Every one of those requests had, until that moment, gone unanswered.

“To be honest, I have pretty much stopped looking into the subject.” I said. “There hasn't been a positive response from any of the institutions that I had requested information from. Without any additional information, I'm afraid any additional research can only be considered anecdotal.”

“Sometimes it can take a substantial length time for news to reach me,” Stein replied. “I hurried over here as soon as I had heard of your request. Do you still happen to have any of your research on the subject at least?”

“It should be around here somewhere, but I usually let my assistant, Spike, handle this type of thing. Are you sure I can't just get my notes to you sometime tomorrow?”

“No, I'm afraid my need for this research is quite urgent. If I can just review your notes I can get back to my project as soon as possible.”

“You never did say what it was you were studying, or what it has to do with Pinkie.” I said, still shuffling through my desk for the notes. I notice him shift uncomfortably under his cloak.

“I'm afraid that information is, proprietary, at the moment,” he answers hurriedly, “but how about this? I can offer something else as an exchange. Some of my own research, for some of your's.”

“Okay...” His constant dodging of my questions had started to grate on my nerves at this point.

He reaches into a pouch hidden underneath his dark cloak and pulls out a clear vial filled to the stopper with a luminescent red liquid. “This substance, which is called Flux, is one of my side projects. I'll let you study a sample if you let me peruse your notes.”

“What is 'Flux' exactly, and why would I be interested?” I said, knowing full-well how hard it is for keep myself from jumping at the chance to study something new. Stein, however, just seemed to be a little off in how he carried himself, even if he did seem to choose his actions, and words, carefully.

“Are you saying that somepony, as studious as yourself, wouldn't be interested in observing what happens when a magically attuned crystalline lattice is infused with an incredible amount of energy? So much magic, in fact, that it turns to liquid whilst still retaining its magical properties?”

And with that, Stein had managed to make me refocus entirely on locating my notes.

Shortly after finding said notes, and trading them for only a single drop of the flux, Stein asked if he could review them here in the library. I gave him permission so long as he didn't disturb Spike who was sleeping upstairs.

After offering to hang his cloak by the door, which he refused, I took my newly acquired sample with me into the lab downstairs so that I could get a better look at it. Firstly, I confirmed that it was indeed a magic crystal. This single drop contained enough magical force to continuously cast a low-level spell for nearly a week! Thinking back on it, I'm amazed that Stein was brazen enough to carry a full vial of the stuff with him. I'd hate to think of what would happen if it ever got out of hoof. I had run a few more tests before deciding to call it a day. As I headed upstairs, I noticed that Stein had moved to a corner of the library and was still reading through my notes. I had asked him if he needed anything before I turned in for the night, but he barely registered my presence. Just as I was getting ready for bed I woke Spike up in order to send you the letter asking about Stein's credentials as a researcher.

Spike grudgingly sent the letter only after I had filled him with a few of the details of Stein's visit. His task complete, Spike promptly went back to sleep, but before I did the same, I made sure to double check all of the locks on my door, both magical and otherwise.

Author's Notes:

I present to you all the first chapter of Observations. A story of mystery, of intrigue, of colorful confectionery concoctions! Well maybe not so much of that last one, at least not yet...